"Neurotically Yours" by Bonnie Trachtenberg reveals a relationship advice columnist who cannot seem to succeed in romance, even when using her own advice. Dara bases her own love life on experiences with a lost love and one that she rejected after years of on again off again disappointments. When she is released of her duties as a well-known advice columnist, Dara must find a new profession in order to regain her professional confidence as well as support her life style. With the help of her nontraditional friend Reggie and the support of Jesse, her flamboyant cross-dressing neighbor, Dara creates her own dating service MateSearch. While the business is fresh and full of original dating venues, it is also an easy mark for singles looking for an unethical method of gaining public notoriety. In the midst of a wayward lawsuit, Dara is entangled with the client from hell. Her attempts to avoid negative public opinion backfire when local Hollywood talk show diva Ophelia challenges Dara to play by her own rules and make the perfect match for herself. Dara convinces her last boyfriend to pose as the man in her life, until she is forced to devote more time with the man attempting to ruin her now thriving business becomes an everyday fixture; so much so that even her loyal feline friend becomes infatuated with his company.
Trachtenberg weaves a fun and compelling story that, although somewhat formulaic, provides a rare innocence for its genre. There are plenty of twists and an interesting plot that keeps the pages turning. The dialogue moved smoothly between the well developed characters. I really enjoyed Neurotically Yours. It put a smile on my face and renewed my dwindling faith in romantic chick lit.