NEWLY WED

Frothy, frivolous and harmless, this quickie novel borrows its zing from two of-the-moment fads: reality TV shows and online dating. Jen and Jesse receive an all-expenses paid wedding when they win a ("Just Duet") contest sponsored by the online dating service through which they met. In exchange, the couple promises to provide a blog-like chronicle of their first year of marriage. "Artsy" Jen is still a college student (majoring in art history and minoring in philosophy), while strait-laced Jesse has just started his first real job as (surprise!) an accountant. Their "odd couple" pairing (shades of TV's Dharma and Greg ) leads to a series of sitcom-style misadventures, spiced with some mildly salacious scenes described in titillating yet not terribly explicit fashion ("He kissed her hard, his tongue reaching hungrily into her mouth as his hands slipped under her T-shirt"). The couple's relationship takes a temporary turn for the worse when Jesse breaks a promise to Jen by hiring strippers for a friend's bachelor party. For readers who click with its mix of perky narration, trendy topics and hints of sexiness, this light entertainment offers many minutes of reading pleasure. Ages 16-up. (Jan.)