“A Belle in Brooklyn” by Demetria L. Lucas, 2011, Atria Books , $24, 326 pages
Demetria L Lucas has lived the life, and if you read her new book, “A Belle in Brooklyn,” you’ll get to share in her story.
Ever since she was a girl growing up in Maryland, Demetria wanted to be Nola Darling. Nola, a character in Spike Lee’s first film, was young and single with a “harem of men vying for her affections.” Lucas could see herself in that role, and she knew where she wanted to do it: in Manhattan, where she also longed to be a magazine editor.
Seven months after grad school, she moved to Brooklyn after having landed a beginner job in which the “pay sucked.” But the parties were free and open to a newbie in the industry, and that’s where the cuties were.
As the months passed, Lucas moved up to newer and better jobs, with the side hope of moving up to newer and better men. She had lots of male friends, but things were bumpy. Dude left her for another woman with a bigger booty. Dakar was a good friend and mentor, until he did something totally creepy. She thought Greg was The One, until he moved away without asking her to move with him.
Why was dating so difficult? Was it because men were reluctant to commit? Were they on the lookout for a woman with a smaller waist or longer “real” hair? And what about skin color? Did that matter, too?
She polled her Male Mind Squad (a group of guy pals) and doggedly continued to date.
A date, Lucas points out, is just that. It’s a couple hours. It isn’t a commitment. It isn’t forever.
But forever wouldn’t be such a bad thing, either.
Did you ever see "Sex in the City?" Well, this book is like that, only so, so much better.
Reading “A Belle in Brooklyn” is like curling up in your bestie’s living room with a glass of wine and a couple hours of dishing. It’s like stepping out to find a “may-an” with a woman who’s done your homework for you. It’s like getting advice on a broken heart from a woman who’s mended a few of her own.
Lucas doesn’t preach here, though. She tells her story in a way 
that feels like a novel embedded with quite a bit of subtly useful advice. I also enjoyed that Lucas isn’t stuffy; this book has the feel of a letter from a friend, a series of emails, or a good, long text.
If you’ve decided that decent dating experiences are the exception rather than the rule, you need this book. Look for “A Belle in Brooklyn” – and then get it.
The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 12,000 books. Her self-syndicated book reviews appear in more than 260 newspapers.
