Mr. Maybe

June 11, 2001
Yet another endearingly flawed, contemporary London career girl comes down the pike in this latest novel by British writer Green (Jemima J). Libby Mason, 27, enjoys her fashionable career in PR, but is determined to marry a rich, "gorgeous" man who will support her in sumptuous style and allow her to join the class of ladies who lunch. Her previous relationships have proven unsatisfactory on all fronts, but then she meets Nick, who happens to be "gorgeous," smart, funny, sensitive and unparalleled in the sack, but unfortunately also a struggling writer who lives in a "grotty" (but clean) bedsit. Libby decides to have fun in bed with Nick and not fall in love, because he's not rich and she doesn't like his left-wing, blue-collar friends. They do have lots of great sex, until Nick breaks up with Libby because he is too attracted to her and isn't ready for a relationship. Libby turns for comfort to her best friend, Jules, who is happily married to the "gorgeous" Jamie. On a girl's night on the town, Libby meets well-known financier Ed McMahon, who is very rich and very eligible, but not "gorgeous"—he is older, pompous, boring and the worst lay she has ever had, but when he proposes Libby accepts, as she sees her dream of becoming the idle rich at last coming true. Despite an annoying overuse of the word "gorgeous," Libby Mason manages to garner reader sympathy and even a cheer or two. There are no surprises here and a few loose ends dangle (allusions to Nick's hidden upper-class roots are never explained), but Green has a charming way with dialogue and sex scenes, making this a cheerful summer read. 3-city author tour.

February 1, 2001
In this follow-up to Green's Bridget Jones ripoff, Jemima J, a greedy young publicist is torn between sexy but broke Nick and oh-so-rich-but-boring Ed.

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2001
After breaking up with yet another boyfriend who treats her terribly, Libby Mason decides she wants to have a fling. Handsome Nick, a poor, struggling writer, seems like the perfect guy for the job. After all, there's no chance of developing a serious relationship with him because Libby wants to marry a rich man, and Nick is on the dole. But the more Libby learns about Nick, the more she likes him--he's funny and great in bed, and she can actually talk to him. But just as Libby is starting to wonder if maybe this fling could turn into the real thing, Nick breaks it off, insisting he is not ready for a relationship. Distraught, Libby realizes just how much she liked Nick. She soon meets Ed, a rich investment banker, who is smitten at first sight. On paper, Ed is everything Libby's always wanted--he's loaded, he drives a great car, and he lives in a fashionable part of town. But he's awkward and lousy in bed, and Libby can't seem to muster up an attraction to him. Still, he treats her better than any guy has before, and Libby starts to think that maybe he could be the one. " Mr. "Maybe follows Green's popular American debut," Jemima J" [BKL Ap 1 00], and, like its predecessor, is a warm, funny novel about a single girl trying to find love.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)