At the end of Rachel Cohn's last novel about independent, unconventional Cyd Charisse ("CC" for short), Cyd surprised even herself when she turned down a proposal from the perfect guy --- Shrimp, the surfer boy love of her life --- to encourage him to follow his dreams in New Zealand and allow herself to continue to find herself in New York City.

Fresh from high school graduation in San Francisco, CC heads to the Big Apple, where she plans to live with her half-brother Danny and maybe (or maybe not) enroll in culinary school. At first, CC loves her new New York life --- exploring her Greenwich Village neighborhood, making friends with even the crankiest neighbors, hanging out in Central Park with her good friend Autumn, and getting to spend lots of time with her almost-perfect brother.

It doesn't take long for there to be trouble in Paradise, though. Autumn decides to return to San Francisco, CC's new friend Chuckie is put off by her wealth, and even Danny gets fed up with CC's disrespect and irresponsibility, leading her to call him the Commandant. But when Shrimp shows up on her doorstep, CC is thoroughly confused. Should she join him on his newfound Buddhist path to enlightenment, or follow her own twisty road to self-actualization? Did she leave her heart in San Francisco, or is she close to finding it in New York?

Once again, CC surprises herself with the answer --- and a courage she didn't even know she possessed.

Rachel Cohn's series of books about Cyd Charisse just keeps getting better. For one thing, CC doesn't just find herself in new predicaments in each successive novel; she actually grows, matures and changes --- for the better --- as she encounters new challenges. From a narcissistic, immature teen in GINGERBREAD to a hopeless romantic in SHRIMP to a budding entrepreneur and, dare I say, sensible young woman in CUPCAKE, CC continues to become more complex and engaging.

Even the usually cynical and sharp-tongued CC seems surprised at how far she and her friends have come in such a short time: "WHAT HAPPENED TO US? We were once rebels! Proudly insolent teenagers!...I don't know whether to be scared or pleased." Making smart (if scary) choices, considering compromises, even finding some sympathy for family members she previously disdained, CC is emerging as a talented, winning young woman whom readers still won't want to see the last of.