Forks, Knives, and Spoons

DeCesare’s charming debut novel (after her Naked Parenting guides) follows two college roommates who test their dating theories. In 1988, Amy York is excited for a new chapter of her life to begin at Syracuse University. There, she bonds with her roommate, Veronica Warren, and the two balance studying, partying, and shared trips back home. As for boys, Amy has come prepared with “the list,” a set of criteria for her ideal future husband, along with the Utensil Classification System, adapted from advice from her dad (“There are three types of guys: forks, knives, and spoons”). The UCS comes in handy as Amy, Veronica, and their friends encounter plenty of forks (the guys you want to avoid), knives (the guys you want to keep), and spoons (the guys who will avoid you) along the way. Amy is quick to spread the UCS message around, but both young women come to learn there’s more to life than labels. Throughout college and beyond, Amy and Veronica’s friendship sees them through various obstacles, and their bond comes through strongly on the page. While the book’s lessons of self-acceptance verge on self-help tropes, DeCesare makes the trip consistently pleasant. (Self-published)