BITTERSWEET COMEDY OF (BAD) MANNERS follows the ambivalent friendship of two New York women to unlikely blowup. SOLID B

I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU: A NOVEL ABOUT BEST FRIENDS
Back Bay Books
2009

JOURNALIST AND GOURMET Frank Bruni (the NYT’s restaurant reviewer) dishes on his lifelong love affair with food. B PLUS

BORN ROUND: THE SECRET HISTORY OF A FULL-TIME EATER
Penguin Press HC, The
2009

CHARMINGLY QUIRKY look at the history of the unicorn myth, and at the real-life animals behind the legend. B PLUS

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF UNICORNS
William Morrow
2009

SPRAWLING, IMPRESSIONISTIC, vividly imagined portrait of Mexico City by expat poet and journalist John Ross. B PLUS

EL MONSTRUO: DREAD AND REDEMPTION IN MEXICO CITY
Nation Books
2009

A MASTER COUNTERFEITER comes under the spotlight in this crisply detailed look at a criminal’s true-life story. B PLUS

THE ART OF MAKING MONEY: THE STORY OF A MASTER COUNTERFEITER
Gotham Books
2009

RICHLY COMPLEX SCIENCE FICTION from Nancy Kress features her trademark combo of alien tech and human dilemmas. A MINUS

STEAL ACROSS THE SKY
Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC
2009

FASCINATING STORY of Henry Ford’s experimental rubber plantation/community in Brazil. Well researched, but dry. B PLUS

FORDLANDIA: THE RISE AND FALL OF HENRY FORD’S FORGOTTEN JUNGLE CITY
Metropolitan Books
2009

FUN AND FLUFFY chick-lit with a Hollywood setting is a goofy, delightful fairytale of a Cinderella cineaste. SOLID B

HOLLYWOOD IS LIKE HIGH SCHOOL WITH MONEY
Grand Central Publishing
2009

SAD, FUNNY, TOUCHING memoir of rebuilding a New Orleans life after Hurricane Katrina; tough but rewarding read. A MINUS

PLENTY ENOUGH SUCK TO GO AROUND
Kensington Publishing Corporation
2009

THE DEAD-END JOB MYSTERIES return with Helen now working at a fancy hair salon, and solving a celeb murder. Fun! B PLUS

KILLER CUTS: A DEAD-END JOB MYSTERY
NAL Hardcover
2009