Match Game has some very funny writing and engaging characters. Unfortunately, it also has an unlikable premise, a repetitive middle, and too many TSTL moments.

Savannah is in the process of getting married to Todd, her long-term boyfriend, when large men burst into the church, whipping out guns and badges. They are FBI agents who arrest Savannah for tax evasion and money-laundering. Interrogation by the FBI reveals that Savannah is a victim of identity theft. An unknown woman in Naples, Florida secured credit cards in Savannah’s name and ran up $50,000 in charges. She also used Savannah’s identity to set up a bank account to run a money-laundering scheme. Although the FBI quickly clears Savannah, she still faces the arduous task of straightening out her ruined credit, and to complete the disaster, Todd declines to reschedule their wedding, telling Savannah, “It’s not worth the trouble.” Savannah interprets Todd’s remark as she’s not the worth the trouble.

Savannah concocts an imaginary vision of her imposter, whom she dubs “Vanna,” as the sexy and exciting kind of woman that can attract and hold onto a man. She admires the other woman so much for boldly taking what she wants out of life that Savannah decides to become a new person. She buys a new wardrobe, trades in her sensible beige car for a sporty red convertible and moves to Naples. She gets a room at a motel, meets Mike, its handsome owner, and hunts for a glamorous job. Savannah wants to find “Vanna,” not to turn her over to the FBI, who are not pursuing her due to lack of resources, but just to meet her.

While Mike owns and manages the motel where Savannah is staying, his real job is as a federal air marshal for the nearby airport. Savannah’s sense of humor and approachable personality entrance Mike, but his attraction turns to horror when he runs a background check on her and discovers her unsavory financial history. Though he keeps his distance from her afterwards, it is quite clear she has gotten under his skin, and when Mike later comforts Savannah after she runs into some trouble, he has never felt anything as wonderful as her in his arms.

I did not like the premise built on Savannah’s belief that she had to change herself to keep a man’s interest. Savannah thinks she is boring to men just because her cheap, spineless, used car salesman fiancé decided not to marry her after all. Additionally, she actually admires “Vanna,” a woman who stole her identity and blithely destroyed her credit with expensive shopping purchases. These details do not make sense considering Savannah is otherwise a levelheaded, capable woman in her early thirties.

The middle of the book drags because Savannah continually wonders about how she wants to be a more interesting person, a more exciting person – over and over again. Perhaps this was to add some chick lit flavor, but it was wearisome reading. Savannah also can’t figure out when a situation is fishy, is protractedly dense about an advertising sales job at a restaurant, and is completely boneheaded in another situation where any normal person would be automatically suspicious about what they had observed. These TSTL episodes are especially jarring when she shows some amazing brainwork later on, which just highlights the inconsistent characterization. Is Savannah smart and capable or is she a TSTL twit? Ms. Brandt can’t seem to make up her mind.

The book does have some pluses. The humor is terrific, especially in the witty pop quizzes that are sandwiched between the chapters. Savannah can be a very likable character despite her occasional wrong-headed thinking, and Mike is a thoroughly nice guy who is good to his mother, but isn’t a momma’s boy.

I plan to try other books by Beverly Brandt because I liked her style of romantic comedy, but Match Game has too many problems for me to recommend it.