The Good Neighbor

October 1, 2015
Recently divorced mom Izzy Lane decides to spice things up by inventing a boyfriend and writing about him on her blog, a little white lie of no real consequence since her blog only has few readers. Then her media-maven BFF, Jade, offers Izzy the opportunity to blog for Pop Philly, a local entertainment website, and Izzy's fake relationship captivates an international audience. Only her elderly neighbor knows the truth, and soon everyone else is clamoring to meet Mac, her truly too-good-to-be-true suitor. As her lie spirals out of control, Izzy is forced to face the reasons why she's so dissatisfied with her real life. Nathan's (The Glass Wives, 2013) latest swings unexpectedly from lighthearted romantic comedy to a serious examination of honesty and friendship. Izzy and her friends sense that they're getting older and need to take life seriously but hesitate to let go of their youth, a problem typical of middle-class Gen Xers. Nathan also touches on elder care and single motherhood. A tale for readers who enjoy humorous women's fiction that explores deeper themes.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)