HARD CASH

In this first, slickly produced installment of a trilogy, a British teen, tired of being poor, gets seduced by a taste of money and glamour. When the head of an ad agency shows interest in his art, the protagonist (ironically named Rich) suddenly finds himself with expensive clothes, going to glitzy events and snogging his dream girl. However, he has precariously hitched his future to the hope of being signed to an account, risks failing out of school and leaves home after a huge fight with his dad. Readers won't be taken by surprise by the plot's trajectory, nor will they find Rich's sudden rise particularly believable (Nick, the agency boss, hands him wads of money, invites him to parties and even gives him a place to live). Many of the characters also seem unoriginal, from the snooty Portia, who's beautiful but shallow and forever on her "mobile," to Huw, the offbeat art teacher who warns Rich that he's wasting his talent. There are some great moments, such as a tender scene between Rich and his mom after he's moved out ("You know you can come home, don't you, Richard," she asks) and some funny spots, such as when Portia plays up the drama in their trysts ("She yanks away, and rushes off, like we're in a spy movie or something"). In the end, though, the novel is too formulaic, and may not excite much interest in the next episode, Shacked Up , due in April 2004. Ages 16-up. (Oct.)