The Boy Series (Books 1-3) Discussion #1

Welcome to the first "Boy" series discussion thread

Book 1: The Boy Next Door

An entertaining romp told entirely through e-mails. Melissa Fuller, celebrity-gossip columnist for the New York Journal, lives a relatively shallow existence until her elderly neighbor is attacked and sent to the hospital in a coma, leaving behind her Great Dane and two cats. Melissa gets help in caring for them from the man who is supposedly Mrs. Friedlander's playboy nephew Max, but who is actually his college buddy doing him a favor, and it all becomes a bit complicated when Melissa falls in love with "Max."

Book 2: Boy Meets Girl

Kate, an earnest young human resources representative at the New York Journal, must handle a dreadful case. Her evil boss, Amy, is forcing her to fire the beloved Ida Lopez, whose desserts are famous in the senior staff room, just because Ida refused a second dessert to the detestable Stuart Hertzog, Amy's beau and the paper's lawyer. When Ida Lopez sues the paper for wrongful termination, the case goes to Mitchell, Stuart's handsome, unconventional brother. Kate is charmed by Mitch, despite the fact that she is sure he is just like his brother. He is certainly nothing like her ex-boyfriend, Dale, who is still trying to get her back though he still doesn't want to get married. Despite the forces standing in their way, Mitch and Kate are falling for each other until Mitch tries to catch Amy in a lie during a deposition, which has disastrous consequences for Kate. Told in a series of e-mails, phone messages, instant messages, and journal entries

Book 3: Every Boy's Got One

This charming urban fairy tale about an elopement pits maid-of-honor Jane, famous for her "Wonder Cat" cartoons, against best man Cal, an international journalist who has never heard of her work. The author captures the rustic charm of Castelfidardo, a small Italian town that happens to be the accordion-making capital of the world and is full of unpredictable electricity, dubious public restrooms, and bureaucratic snafus that nearly derail the nuptials. The clever story is told via e-mail, text messaging, Weblogs, and Jane's entries in a travel journal. After writing a few pages, she realizes that the trip is a chance for her to discover that every boy has one: a heart, that is.