Bachelor Degree

In this brassy sophomore effort from Marks-White (Seducing Harry), divorced New York gallery associate Samantha Krasner, 38, has always been overshadowed by her rich, twice-widowed, art collector mother, Madeleine Krasner-Wolfe. To Madeleine's delight, Samantha hits it off with artist de jour Blake Hamilton, though she urges Samantha to put the long-distance affair on the back burner and get things brewing with much-gossiped-about hottie gynecologist Spencer Gould. Madeleine sets her sights on Spencer's also-gyno father, and schedules appointments for them (and a niece, too, for good measure)-with unexpected results. As Blake's debut exhibit approaches, secrets and lies are unleashed that test all concerned. Though Samantha, who narrates, is meant to be witty and acerbic, she comes off as hard. And in light of the book's theme of looking for love in the big bad city, the third-act scandal almost seems like a tacked-on after-thought. Marks-White does do a sterling job of name-checking the hangouts and proclivities of affluent New Yorkers (""When I dipped my fork into my lobster seasoned with vanilla and set on a cauliflower puree, I actually gasped""), which brings her brand of Manhattan to life.