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Flirting in Cars
From Alisa Kwitney, the acclaimed author of Sex as a Second Language and The Dominant Blonde, comes a witty, romantic, and compassionate new novel about an urban working mom who leaves the city only to find her talents are no match for country life.
An accomplished journalist, Zoë Goren can't drive and she doesn't cook. But that's never been a problem in Manhattan, where the streets are filled with taxis and takeout restaurants, and a busy single mother can find everything she needs right at her fingertips. In fact, Zoë can't imagine living or working anyplace else. But when Zoë's daughter is diagnosed with dyslexia, she decides to make the ultimate sacrifice, moving two hours from Manhattan in order to enroll Maya in an excellent school for children with learning differences. Stranded in a rural paradise, Zoë must grapple with isolation, coyote howls, and the lack of good delivery services. But when she decides to overcome her fear of driving and take lessons, she meets Mack, an unnervingly attractive townie, back from the war in Iraq and trying to adjust to civilian life. With a budding new romance and a reporting gig for the local paper, Zoë just might survive in the wilderness of small-town America after all.
One of today's best breakout authors, who has been called "witty, charming, funny, and real" by Carly Phillips, Alisa Kwitney creates authentic characters that women love to read about -- and talk about. Zoë Goren will have them rooting for her all the way.
An accomplished journalist, Zoë Goren can't drive and she doesn't cook. But that's never been a problem in Manhattan, where the streets are filled with taxis and takeout restaurants, and a busy single mother can find everything she needs right at her fingertips. In fact, Zoë can't imagine living or working anyplace else. But when Zoë's daughter is diagnosed with dyslexia, she decides to make the ultimate sacrifice, moving two hours from Manhattan in order to enroll Maya in an excellent school for children with learning differences. Stranded in a rural paradise, Zoë must grapple with isolation, coyote howls, and the lack of good delivery services. But when she decides to overcome her fear of driving and take lessons, she meets Mack, an unnervingly attractive townie, back from the war in Iraq and trying to adjust to civilian life. With a budding new romance and a reporting gig for the local paper, Zoë just might survive in the wilderness of small-town America after all.
One of today's best breakout authors, who has been called "witty, charming, funny, and real" by Carly Phillips, Alisa Kwitney creates authentic characters that women love to read about -- and talk about. Zoë Goren will have them rooting for her all the way.
323 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
155 people want to read
About the author
Alisa Kwitney
104 books194 followersI'm the author of YA, graphic novels and novels for adults who still feel young, at least most of the time. Recent works include GILT, a graphic novel about time-traveling women of a certain age; Cadaver & Queen, a YA Feminist Frankenstein meets Grey's Anatomy tale, and Mystik U from DC Comics, which features Zatanna and other magical characters in their first year at college. I also co-host a Sandman podcast, The Endless, with Lani Diane Rich.
My first novel, Till the Fat Lady Sings, is also about college and romance and eating disorders. (It was my thesis at Columbia University's MFA Program, where I felt like an outlier for liking comic books and romance as much as literature.) I was an editor at Vertigo, the mature/dark fantasy branch of DC Comics, before going freelance. (I've also written two hormonal werewolf books as Alisa Sheckley.)
I live near the Vanderbilt Estate in Hyde Park, NY, with two dogs and a frightening number of books.
aka Alisa Sheckley
My first novel, Till the Fat Lady Sings, is also about college and romance and eating disorders. (It was my thesis at Columbia University's MFA Program, where I felt like an outlier for liking comic books and romance as much as literature.) I was an editor at Vertigo, the mature/dark fantasy branch of DC Comics, before going freelance. (I've also written two hormonal werewolf books as Alisa Sheckley.)
I live near the Vanderbilt Estate in Hyde Park, NY, with two dogs and a frightening number of books.
aka Alisa Sheckley
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 19, 2025
2 Stars for Flirting in Cars (audiobook) by Alisa Kwitney read by Andrea Emmes.
This looked like a fun book but I should have read the reviews first. Definitely the best part is the cover and title.
This looked like a fun book but I should have read the reviews first. Definitely the best part is the cover and title.
October 26, 2009
An international journalist who doesn't bother to visit the country house she's moving to from Manhattan, taking the word of a real estate agent that it's "close to town." Really? I couldn't get over that premise enough to enjoy the book. Beyond that, it's basic chick lit.
December 12, 2024
It seemed to drag on which is weird because there was zero plot so what could be talked about for so long
March 2, 2025
This book was a little strangle, but it was something to listen to.
August 15, 2010
3.7.
Pretty good book about a forty-one year International Journalist Manhattanite mother, Zoe , of a ten year old dyslexic, Maya, who moves to upstate New York for a better school to help with her daughter's problems. It's told in two pov's and the other one is John 'Mack' Mackenna, a local thirty-one year old man who has come back from a tour in Iraq to work as a volunteer EMT and a driving instructor.
They both have their own issues to deal with and to be honest, Mack was the more interesting character.
I noted the ages because through the story you can tell which one is older and a little more sure of themselves but also because it is brought up a few times. It didn't really need to be but it was.
This book is pretty much about independence and healthy dependence, about learning to give up the ghosts of the past and about learning that not everything goes according to plan. There's also a little bit of prejudice thrown in (not racist but cultural - in the sense that Zoe is a bit of a Manhattan snob).
Maya is a fun kid and her words are believable. It's sometimes hard to write a smart kid without making them sound forty-seven but here, it works.
Mack and Zoe have a flirtation and it deepens as he becomes her chauffeur and then her driving instructor. There is a clash between the two of them and for that I blame Zoe more than Mack, but you'll have to see.
This book could've been better by giving us a little more back-story into Zoe as well as a better ending. I was a little unsatisfied by the last paragraph of the book because while Zoe has changed, it almost seemed like she went right back to the Zoe at the beginning of the book.
Pretty good book about a forty-one year International Journalist Manhattanite mother, Zoe , of a ten year old dyslexic, Maya, who moves to upstate New York for a better school to help with her daughter's problems. It's told in two pov's and the other one is John 'Mack' Mackenna, a local thirty-one year old man who has come back from a tour in Iraq to work as a volunteer EMT and a driving instructor.
They both have their own issues to deal with and to be honest, Mack was the more interesting character.
I noted the ages because through the story you can tell which one is older and a little more sure of themselves but also because it is brought up a few times. It didn't really need to be but it was.
This book is pretty much about independence and healthy dependence, about learning to give up the ghosts of the past and about learning that not everything goes according to plan. There's also a little bit of prejudice thrown in (not racist but cultural - in the sense that Zoe is a bit of a Manhattan snob).
Maya is a fun kid and her words are believable. It's sometimes hard to write a smart kid without making them sound forty-seven but here, it works.
Mack and Zoe have a flirtation and it deepens as he becomes her chauffeur and then her driving instructor. There is a clash between the two of them and for that I blame Zoe more than Mack, but you'll have to see.
This book could've been better by giving us a little more back-story into Zoe as well as a better ending. I was a little unsatisfied by the last paragraph of the book because while Zoe has changed, it almost seemed like she went right back to the Zoe at the beginning of the book.
August 12, 2007
I loved this book. Great romance, great characters....and different enough to keep you interested and guessing. Also just her usual great writing and pacing. I recommend this for any lover of romance or chick lit.
February 10, 2011
Wonderfully satisfying chick lit with a stupid title and cover. Don't let that put you off, especially if you like stories about urban/rural differences, social class, education, and dealing with dyslexia.
August 12, 2008
I really came to care about the characters in this book. An honest, true to life, realistic read. Great story.
February 26, 2023
Found this book at a local little free library. It's been awhile since I read chick lit, but I would definitely say I enjoyed it more than any other chick lit I have read. Agreed with another reviewer, wasn't a fan of the last paragraph of the book.
May 7, 2019
An enjoyable book
December 18, 2016
Car guys like me are definitely not the target audience for this book. I picked up this volume at a used-book store, hoping to find a diamond in the rough -- a romance steeped in hydrocarbons. Instead, Flirting in Cars is locked into the Manhattanite viewpoint of personal transportation being purely optional. True, the small portions of the book set in 'the city' are the most well-written. The remainder of the book finds the rest of America too provincial to treat it fairly. Alisa Kwitney would do well to spend some time in fly-over country, and give her characters more nuance than the two-dimensional characters here. Zoe, Mack, Moira, Gretchen, Jess, Bronwyn, Ema and Moroney are all stereotypes cast without a breakout moment among them. Well, maybe Mack grows up in the end a bit, but not the manipulative protagonist. A good story left untold.
June 15, 2010
Meh. I did finish reading it though, so it certainly wasn't the worst book I've ever read, and it wasn't the best.
There were some great descriptions in this book "who could barely hear through the mass of crusty white hair sticking out of his ears".
But there were a lot of places where I found myself thinking, "Let's get on with the story," and I'd skim (sometimes even skipping pages). And I found the first couple chapters difficult to get into. I kept asking myself if it was necessary. And no, I still don't understand what the woman looking at Zoe's apartment had to do with the rest of the book.
Would I buy another book by this author? Probably since I have a hard time remembering whether or not I've read certain authors' books before. Would I enjoy it? I dunno. I'd guess no.
There were some great descriptions in this book "who could barely hear through the mass of crusty white hair sticking out of his ears".
But there were a lot of places where I found myself thinking, "Let's get on with the story," and I'd skim (sometimes even skipping pages). And I found the first couple chapters difficult to get into. I kept asking myself if it was necessary. And no, I still don't understand what the woman looking at Zoe's apartment had to do with the rest of the book.
Would I buy another book by this author? Probably since I have a hard time remembering whether or not I've read certain authors' books before. Would I enjoy it? I dunno. I'd guess no.
July 25, 2011
I can't quite remember how this book came to me, but it's bright yellow cover lifted my spirits and it made for a good lazy Sunday read. The story was more a slice of life, than romance (though it was billed that way). The characters were well drawn, and it was well written without being too flowery (esp. given the subject matter of fish out of water Manhattanite).
January 22, 2008
I tried really hard to get into this book and I just couldn't do it. To be honest, I didn't even finish it. It just seemed to drag on.
I have saved it just in case I feel like reading a mindless romance one of these days. But for the meantime, I have given up all hope on this book.
I have saved it just in case I feel like reading a mindless romance one of these days. But for the meantime, I have given up all hope on this book.
December 28, 2007
Jason got me this for free so I read it. It was ok but not the best chick lit I've ever read
January 9, 2008
This book was a good read! I read it when I was on vacation and I was done with it in about 2 days!
June 25, 2008
Its okay, passed the time while I was flying!
January 2, 2013
Cute but fluffy, which I suppose I should have expected. Kept reaching for bigger ideas and deeper meaning, but it never really got them (that I could tell).
February 8, 2008
Loved it! Typical chick lit but its well written and enjoyable.
August 23, 2014
Easy and enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews