** spoiler alert ** I approached this novel with a little bit of trepidation, because while I've always been a fan of Block's work, I've been a bit disappointed with her most recent novels. And then there's the concept -- this is Block's first novel geared towards adults (other than her erotica), but it's a sequel of sorts to her Weetzie Bat YA novels. The idea is that Weetzie is grown up, and is facing what it means to be wild n' crazy Weetzie Bat and also be nearly forty. Fortunately, most of my trepidations proved unfounded, and I really enjoyed this book, although I will say that if you don't like Francesca Lia Block, this one won't win you over -- it's really for people who are already fans, or who are receptive to FLB's special style of oddness.

Very mild spoilers to follow:
For those of us who grew up with the Weetzie Bat books, this is really a delight, because it fills in what happened after the series ended, and also answers some questions and comments on some of the events and characters in the other books. We have Witch Baby, now going by her given name of Lily, grimacing to her college friend, "You'll never guess what my family calls me..." We have Cherokee Bat, still afraid to use her powers of creation after what happened in Cherokee Bat & the Goat Guys. And we have Weetzie, wondering if maybe she's getting too old to dress so young, wondering why Max, her Secret Agent Lover Man, has stopped kissing her, and in short, having a bit of a mid-life crisis.

The whole novel is a warm, sweet read, a bit of a confection despite its serious side. I thoroughly enjoyed it; it makes the perfect book to read on the beach or sitting in a bubble bath.