Crazy in Love (review)

A bit of almost innocent flirting at a study party upsets the intricate social structure of Mary Jane's small senior class when Mary Jane finds herself irrevocably in crush with Jackson House, boyfriend of Star, the queen bee of her group of friends. Star starts spreading vicious rumors about Mary Jane, which results in a sudden rush of attention of the wrong kind, with her phone ringing off the hook with boys wanting a little action. With her best friend, Alicia, away at college, Mary Jane is at the mercy of her personified conflicting impulses, Plain Jane, the hyper-responsible, hypercritical good girl, and M. J., the sultry sex kitten, who understandably give contradictory advice; this further complicates Mary Jane's struggle to keep the abstinence pact she made years ago. Despite her quandary, Mary Jane is a self-possessed, assertive girl who consistently acts in her own best interest, particularly where guys are concerned. Her emotional landscapes are mostly credible, except for the absolute and uncomplicated devotion she has for her disabled sister, who functions more as an emotional salve, a litmus test for character, and an oracle than a fully developed character in her own right. Similarly, her friends operate rather as object lessons in the "should I or shouldn't I?" sex debate; however, their situations are certainly recognizable if a bit convenient. Overall, though, Mary Jane's story is an energetic and compelling look at the kinds of emotional entanglements high school is famous for, and her acknowledgement and careful negotiation of the voices inside her head will serve as an admirable model for readers engaged in their own inner dialogues.