How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-boyfriend (by Janette Rallison)

A few disaster blind dates later, and it's clear the break-up was a mistake. Can she win Jesse back -- and save her brother's doomed campaign? It's going to be a bumpy ride for emotional Giovanna -- who's prone to making embarrassing mistakes.

It's easy for readers to relate to "emotional" Giovanna: This book is full of disasters, from bad blind dates to a really bad party, all played for laughs. Really, funny is pretty much all this book has going for it. Giovanna's relationship with Jesse -- which she ends in a passionate moment and quickly regrets -- is never really in jeopardy (they continue flirting/fighting until the book's inevitable romantic conclusion). Other storylines, such as Giovanna's tense relationship with her stepmother or her mother's tragic death, aren't developed, and many of the secondary characters remain flat.

But in the end, this is good, clean fun with a happy ending for everyone. It's a fun enough summer read by the beach/pool/mall food court.