Comedy, romance and chick lit mix with Greek mythology when Zeus sends Eros, daughter of Aphrodite, to Earth.
In Scott’s universe, Eros is female, and she commits a serious sin by falling in love with Orion, who may be a constellation but remains mortal. When Zeus finds out, he banishes Eros to 21st-century New Jersey, demanding that she make three love matches or he will kill Orion—but he’s taken away her love-creating powers. Since her mom had kept Eros’ forbidden liaison secret, Zeus banishes her too. He does put them in a nice house with a library and wine cellar, but he gives them no money. Aphrodite immediately occupies herself with drinking up the wine, but feisty Eros enrolls in high school, renaming herself “True Olympia.” Spotting Charlie, a shy boy who wants to play drums against his athletic family’s wishes, she matches him up with several girls who turn out to be completely incompatible, missing Katrina, the girl readers easily will see is Charlie’s true soul mate. Eros’ nonexistent fashion sense and her superconfident, in-your-face attitude provide plenty of chuckles, while Charlie and Katrina’s relationship drama keeps pages turning. Scott writes chapters from the viewpoints of “True,” Charlie and Katrina and treats the mythology lightly, with Percy Jackson–style irreverence.
Charlie and Katrina are just the first couple; hooked readers can expect the fun to continue.
(Chick lit/fantasy. 12-17)