Jennifer Crusie

Jennifer Crusie is a New York Times best-selling romance author. She started in category romance before moving on to single title romances like Faking It and Bet Me.

In the last several years she's also co-written several books with Bob Mayer (Agnes and the Hitman) and Anne Stuart (The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, also with Eileen Dreyer, and Dogs and Goddesses, also with Lani Diane Stuart), and has published several essays on pop culture.

Crusie's works provide examples of:
"Davy: What's Simon? Nadine: Doughnut. With sprinkles."
 * The Bet: Subverted in Bet Me; Cal doesn't make the bet everyone spends the story believing he did.
 * Betty and Veronica: Discussed in Faking It using the terms muffin (Betty) and doughnut (Veronica). The doughnut is exciting and fun and gorgeous, whereas the muffin just kinds of sit there, "lumpy, looking alike, no chocolate frosting." But while the doughnut is good for a one night stand, its sticky and no longer crispy the next morning. Muffins, however, taste better the next day, and are there for the long haul.

"Agnes worked in the Kitchen of Death. Shane: You hit him with a frying pan. How come you didn't grab a knife? Agnes, eyes sliding away: The frying pan was closer. It's not like I had time to pick a weapon. It's not like the frying pan is my weapon of choice."
 * Bodyguard Crush
 * The Con: Used in a number of stories.
 * Fractured Fairy Tale: Bet Me and The Cinderella Deal.
 * Frying Pan of Doom: Used as a Running Gag in Agnes and the Hitman


 * Good People Have Good Sex: Notably averted in the beginning of Faking It, but usually played straight in her stories.
 * Happily Ever After
 * Private Detective: Deconstructed in What the Lady Wants.
 * Romance Arc
 * Romantic Comedy: Her works are an excellent example of this subgenre.
 * Strictly Formula: Almost all of her works involve a crazy ex, a food that the heroine is introduced to by the male lead and ends up craving, a mangy, lovable pet, and a collection (such a stamps, snow globes, etc).