How to Fake a Southern Gentleman

Author duo Cuevas and Marquardt (Does My Body Offend You?) put a delightful, gender-bent spin on My Fair Lady. Journalist Luisa Martín Moreno is fired for writing a damning story about Griggs Caldecott Johnson III, “Atlanta’s Golden Boy.” Meanwhile, single mom Holly Simmons, an events coordinator at the country club Griggs frequents, is in danger of losing her job and the life she’s built for her son due to Griggs’s harassment. Fueled by their mutual hatred, Luisa and Holly hatch a plan to expose Griggs with the help of handsome hustler Elijah “Eli” Denvil Sweet. The women give Eli a makeover, complete with etiquette and voice lessons, transforming him into a charming Southern gentleman capable of infiltrating Griggs’s elite world and gaining his trust. As Luisa and Holly’s wild scheme unfolds, love blossoms between Luisa and Eli while Holly falls for speech professor Hugh. The romance subplots are sweet, but Holly and Luisa’s ride-or-die friendship is the true heart of the book. The story toggles between both women’s perspectives which, combined with a few too many competing plotlines, makes things feel cluttered. Still, the quirky cast is realistic, well-shaded, and endearing. This sassy celebration of found family and friendship will especially charm fans of the original. (Apr.)