Told in the first person, this fun novel reads as easy, inspirational chick-lit with a slight romantic spin. Church and the Bible play important roles in the characters’ lives and each chapter contains life lessons hidden just beneath the surface of the story (and sometimes not even hidden). The romantic elements are lightly sprinkled over each chapter with only the mildest flirting taking place. Dancy and Jack don’t even date, much less express any physical affection for each other.

Although the author presents a likeable main character, Dancy passes judgment on anyone who is over the age of 50 or larger than a size 4 dress (which probably includes many readers). Similarly, Bateman makes it perfectly clear who the good guys and bad guys are in the story. No deep thinking is required for deciphering the meaning of the novel or for figuring out the ending once you’ve read the first couple of chapters. Overall, You Had Me at Good-bye provides a light - though moralistic - look at New York’s publishing world and the quirky people who inhabit it.