Nice

Grace, a timid 30-year-old Manhattan magazine editor, murders unwanted lovers rather than hurt their feelings. The first chapter of Jen Sacks' debut novel, narrated in her perfectly pitched neurotic whine, holds immense satiric potential — think That Girl on a serial-killing spree. Unfortunately, Sacks introduces an alternating narrator in the next chapter. Sam, a killer for hire, falls for Grace and sets out to teach her to just say no. As a satire of city life pushing a mush-mouthed career girl over the edge, the book has enormous possibilities for black comedy. But by morphing into a quirky romantic comedy, this story is ultimately too darn Nice for its own good. C+