Teen Idol

The Barnes & Noble Review
Princess Diaries creator Meg Cabot departs from her popular series with this star-studded tale of a midwestern high schooler who suddenly plays host to a Tinseltown heartthrob. Sticking with her slam-dunk formula of normal girls who get caught up in not-so-normal circumstances, Cabot spins another yarn worthy of red-carpet treatment, this time featuring junior Jenny Greenley, an Indiana native who writes for the school newspaper's anonymous advice column and has a knack for smoothing over bad situations. When Jenny is asked to be "student guide" to Hollywood teen celeb Luke Striker -- who's in town, undercover, to research his next film role -- she only wonders how they'll ever keep his identity secret. Sure enough, the cat's soon out of the bag, and Jenny shakes her world when Luke convinces her to use her influence at school for positive change. Of course, the book wouldn't be complete without a thread of romance for Jenny, too, and the author delivers a smart, surprising ending for her legions of fans. With all the makings of another winner, this stand-alone novel should satiate your appetite for lighthearted fare, Cabot style. The book delivers tantalizing events, realistic characters, and a good message to chew on, making for a solid read that will keep you snickering the whole time. By the end, you'll feel happier than a Best Actress winner on Oscar night. Shana Taylor