Reviewed by Kate

Popular Girl is billed as a romance. The story of what happens when Micky re-encounters his high-school crush, Shelby, at their twentieth reunion, is a bit of a twist on the accepted form.

Shelby is, of course, more beautiful than ever. And Micky is conveniently divorced, and wastes no time telling Shelby how he once felt. Subsequent events prove to him, in a way he cannot avoid, that they have both changed.

The writing is smooth and there are some good moments. The quacking Bergman sequence comes to mind, as does the comment about buttons.

However (and I say this with some trepidation, as I know others admire this author's work) there is also a glibness about this story that I didn't like. The characters are somewhat stereotypical, and they blurt out their stories in a very bald fashion, killing any dramatic tension that might have otherwise built up.

Despite my quibbles, this is an eminently readable story, and there is a worthwhile message...