Stupid and Contagious

Caprice Crane
5 Spot (2006)
ISBN 0446695726
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (5/06)

Meet Heaven and Brady, two apartment neighbors that can’t stand to be around each other, yet can’t seem to stay away from each other. Both have some annoying quirks, yet are totally likeable. Heaven constantly gets Brady’s mis-delivered mail. She always opens it, keeps what she needs, even if it is $10 from his Grandma, and then delivers the rest. Brady is frequently sought out by his ex-girlfriend, Sarah, who does not handle rejection well.

Through most of the story, Heaven has a job as a waitress. She is not very popular with her customers. The antics that go on at the restaurant are outrageous. I learned that you do not want to anger a waiter, busboy or cook. While I was laughing out loud, I was also cringing inside, praying that none of this had ever happened to me. I am also hoping that these pranks are from Crane’s vivid imagination and not true tales shared by friends in the food industry.

Seriously, the scenes that take place in the restaurant are really hysterical. Brady has a record label with very little money. He struggles to sign up good bands that are being sought out by large labels with huge promises. He comes up with the idea of making Cinnamilk. This is cinnamon flavored milk. Like the milk that is left in the bottom of your bowl after you eat cinnamon flavored cereal. Brady decides to go to Seattle, with Heaven and her dog Strummer, to track down the founder of Starbucks so that he can sell him on this idea. Apparently a lot of people go to Seattle to do this. He is not well received at the Starbucks corporate headquarters or at this man’s home.

As each character is trying to get their lives on track, their relationship is moving beyond friendship and is evolving into something really special. Crane writes in a way that makes you sit and laugh out loud, yet imparts a sense of depth in her characters that makes them likeable and has the audience rooting for a true romance.

I highly recommend this book to people that enjoy a great comedy with a touch of romance. It would be great for a readers group to share.

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