cover image If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now

If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now

Claire LaZebnik, Grand Central/5 Spot, $13.99 paper (352p) ISBN 978-0-446-55501-2

In LaZebnik's breezy reminder that it's never too late to become a responsible parent (after The Smart One and the Pretty One), Rickie Allen, attached to her tattoos, piercings, and punky dyed hair, is terrified of becoming a suburban soccer mom. Still, this spoiled slacker sees no problem in sponging off her wealthy L.A. parents after her trip to adulthood takes a U-turn when she gets pregnant at 18, drops out of Berkeley, and gets ditched by her biology student boyfriend. By the time Rickie's 25, Noah is enrolled at the exclusive Fenwick School, where Rickie meets coach Andrew Fulton, and soon it's a matter of opposites attracting and Rickie learning to do some growing up. Although a little too feel-good fuzzy, LaZebnik's peek at Rickie's struggles to break free of her shortsighted youthful self-righteousness is zany and sweet. (Sept.)