The authors of the New York Times bestseller The Nanny Diaries have teamed up yet again for Dedication (Atria, June 5), a novel about fame, an ex-boyfriend and small-town gossip. The novel follows Kate Hollis, whose ex-boyfriend Jake Sharpe earned millions from the songs he wrote about Kate and her family. Kate’s life is darkened by Jake’s hurtful and personal lyrics.

A possible retaliation opportunity arises when Jake returns to their hometown for an MTV special that is being filmed at his mom’s house. Kate has been waiting for this moment. She angrily confronts him, but her prolonged fury is temporarily quelled by his charm, and she begins to remember what she found attractive about him in the first place. But this pop star isn’t the same Jake Sharpe that Kate made out with in high school, and their painful past together may be too much for her to overcome.

Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have written yet another entertaining, albeit predictable, story that is relatable to anyone who has been in a love-gone-wrong situation. They examine our culture’s celebrity obsession from a different viewpoint: that of someone who was a muse and, as a result, has become a minor celebrity.

The film version of The Nanny Diaries opens nationwide today.

Win a copy of Dedication by filling out the form in the print edition of The University News and turning it into the newsroom, BSC Suite 354, by Wednesday, August 29.