As a college student with little spare time, I can really relate to a person whose life's ambition is to pursue leisure and freedom.
Who wouldn't like to put in 20 hours of work each week, get paid well to do it and spend the rest of their time at a café or at the bars?
That's exactly how Jane Cooper, the main character in Alexandra Koslow's freshman novel "Slacker Girl," lives her life.
The story is set in the Big Apple; Jane is a twenty-something woman who, after college graduation, floats from meaningless part-time job to meaningless part-time job to avoid facing life - meaning getting a real career - until her empty bank account means she has to take the plunge and grow up.
But a job opportunity comes her way that will support her life of leisure. As a relationship manager for an investment firm, she's able to BS her way through the job, claiming she's "meeting with clients" when, in actuality, she's doing needlepoint at her favorite café.
And though she faces the possibility of losing her job when the company decides to downsize, work isn't all bad - at least her boss Ray Bowen is good-looking and has a sexy voice, even if she thinks he might have Tourette's syndrome, which can be the only reason he blushes constantly around her and stares blankly at her.
Their relationship is hilarious and adds some of the best humor in the book. She tells him crazy stories from her nights out on the town, while he tries to harbor his feelings for her with blank stares and blushes.
Their chemistry is golden.
And even though her best friend Rebecka is going through a major breakup with her boyfriend of four years who cheated on her with the neighborhood tramp, Jane gets to play wingman when they go out on the town to drink their disappointment away.
So in short, the book's plot is good.
Unlike other chick-lit novels that focus mostly on the strife of being single, chubby or unemployed, "Slacker Girl" tells the story of a woman who is just looking to be happy doing, well ... nothing.
And when an at-work crush on the boss does come into play, the boss isn't some cheating, egotistical freak like Daniel Cleaver in "Bridget Jones's Diary." He's more cute and awkward on par with Mark Darcy.
And it's always good to be a Mark and not a Daniel.
For a first attempt at a novel, and a chick-lit at that, Koslow tells a fun, engaging story with characters that you like and want to know more about.
While the book has some elements predictable in women's literature, like cheating boyfriends and new romances, it has little surprises waiting on every page.
But it still had some room for improvement.
While fast-paced books are usually great, this one is, at times, a little too quick. There are sections of the book that are over way too soon and could've used a bit more development or foreshadowing, like when Jane and Rebecka go bar-crawling with Jane's hot boss.
And the dialogue is a little trite and underdeveloped. And there is a lot of it - much more than necessary.
For example: "Hey, diva" and "How are you, gorgeous?" aren't exactly the most riveting dialogue. While it's pretty realistic of what some people might say - or at least this particular character - there are just a lot of words wasted on greetings, farewells and filler statements that just make the dialogue drag.
When writing a book or anything else, it's good to leave that kind of dialogue on the cutting room floor.
The book made for a good, quick read that would be perfect for free afternoons or evenings when a person just needs to read for a few minutes before going to sleep. I had trouble putting it down and really wanted to see what came of Jane and all of her antics.
And Koslow succeeded in her first attempt at a novel - so well that I'd be interested to read any books she may write in the future.
laurachapman@dailynebraskan.com
