Triple Shot Betty's in Love »

Jody Gehrman lives in California.

Geena is freaking out. She's been going out with Ben for five months, their relationship is comfortable and perfect, and then Bam! he's suddenly putting the pressure on to be way more physical. She's not sure she's ready.

Enter Mr. Rex Sands, Geena's delectably hot and brilliant English substitute teacher (he speaks to her soul!), on whom her best friend Amber develops an immediate crush when he stops by the Triple Shot Betty coffee shack. Amber needs Geena's help talking to him because he is such an intellectual, so Geena finds herself writing love notes, MySpace messages, and texts to Mr. Sands under Amber's name. And he writes back! Geena is just doing it all for Amber (sort of), so it's not technically cheating on Ben . . . right? In this romantic and playful update of Cyrano de Bergerac, Jody Gehrman reintroduces readers to Geena, Amber, and the Sonoma gang as they walk the rocky and confusing path toward true love.

Children's Literature

With schoolwork and stress, Geena is not sure that she is ready for this kind of relationship she is in with Ben. Is it possible to keep Ben as her boyfriend without going outside her comfort zone? Geena's friend, Amber, has a huge crush on Mr. Sands, the attractive and intelligent English teacher who is brilliant in the classroom with his spellbinding lectures and charismatic nature. Amber decides to impersonate an older woman and set up an online relationship with Mr. Sands, so Geena finds herself going on MySpace and writing love notes on behalf of Amber. To Geena's surprise, Mr. Sands responds positively. Suddenly, Geena wonders if her life could get any more complicated. Now that her friend is in love with her teacher, what can Geena do? Fortunately, the girls take refuge at the Trip Shot Betty coffee shack, where they talk about the meaning of life, boys, and their hot teacher. This twenty-first century romance will whet the appetites of young readers who enjoy sipping on coffee and reading about teenage angst. Reviewer: Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D.