The Perfect Elizabeth: A Romantic Comedy

Composed of crisp, crumpet-sized snapshots, Schmais's winning romantic comedy tells the story of 30-something New York City sisters Eliza and Bette Ferber, who, when viewed as a composite, become the eponymously perfect Elizabeth. Eliza, otherwise known as Liza, a legal secretary who writes poetry on the side, has grown tired of her monotonous job and the commitment-phobic attitude of her actor boyfriend, Gregor. Meanwhile, academic-minded Bette has immersed herself in her dissertation on comfort foods in the English novel. Bette has been burned once already, and she prefers the nonthreatening world of Barbara Pym to real-life love. Worried that Bette will become like one of the lonely characters in the books she reads, Eliza embarks the duo on a round of singles parties and pilgrimages to a laptop-toting Jewish matchmaker in Queens. Astoundingly, the sisters' wildest dreams come true: Bette meets a fabulous man named Lawrence who likes Jane Austen and hates roller blades, while Liza quits her job and moves in with Gregor. But although though everything Liza thought she wanted is falling into place, she still can't relax. Will walking some dogs, taking up astrology, waitressing in a coffee shop, taking dance classes, going to L.A. or writing a children's story help? Schmais has a tendency to repeat facts as if she doesn't trust the reader to have paid sufficient attention the first time, but that is her only misstep in what is otherwise a breezy yet thoughtful debut. The Ferber sisters have a charming propensity for viewing the world through Masterpiece Theatre-tinted glasses, and readers will enjoy following their attempts to stop shooting for perfection and to learn to accept plain old happiness. Agent, Neeti Madan. (July)