CUPCAKE

Now 18, Cyd Charisse is back in New York, living with half-brother Danny and missing her ex-boyfriend Shrimp. The cast of characters doesn’t extend much beyond that of previous installments, but a broken leg leads to “hello mutant tall woman with the new bottomful bottom, who needs jeans two sizes bigger than her old ones, which isn’t too terrible when you consider the upper end of her filling out.” Despite slightly more serious issues arising, the implied promise that all will be fine is maintained, even though it may take a morning-after pill when good decision-making is compromised by irresponsible drinking. No hint or worries about STDs are allowed to invade this happy-go-lucky world where CC continues her clever, hip, protected life, well-financed by doting parents Nancy, Sid and Frank. Fans enamored of the nonchalant lip of the sometimes-sophisticated, sometimes-childish voice and life of CC will enjoy seeing a tiny bit of maturity appear in other aspects of Cyd besides her body, as well as learning more about what happens to her family and friends. Fun fluff, about as satisfying as most cupcakes. (Fiction. YA)