Debut author Wells crafts a lighthearted and sometimes humorous tale about four high school friends. As the only one without a boyfriend, Alexia is used to spending weekends alone watching Best Week Ever
. But when her friends all arrive on her doorstep after being dumped by their guys, she devises a list of 29 rules meant to lessen their heartache (Rule 1: “You must not email or IM The Ex ever again. Take his name off your email list”). Although the girls agree the rules are smart, they find them hard to follow, and soon they're breaking nearly every one. And when Alexia meets a cute boy, she's torn between standing by her “girls” and reveling in her first relationship. Wells styles this confection with all the right components: likable characters, rule books, rituals. But its weakness lies in the lack of genuine conflicts and the after-school-special manner in which the few existing issues are resolved. For example, one mother, who has virtually abandoned her family to immerse herself in her job, appears out of the blue and announces she's taking a week of vacation just to hang out with her daughter. This solution, like the overall story, is a little too neat and perfect to be compelling. Ages 12-up. (Dec.)
