Forks, Knives and Spoons Book Review

by Lisa McCombs

According to college freshman Amy, there are three types of guys: forks, knives, and spoons. When she unpacks her belongings at Syracuse University, she also unpacks her father’s theory on the appropriate gentlemen types. Amy York’s roommate, Veronica, is skeptical at first, but soon finds comfort in her friend’s words. As the girls acclimate to college life, join a sorority, and collect more memories in friendships, break-ups, surprising romances, and common conflicts in their freshman year, the cutlery theory broadens to encompass every level of relationships.

The girls try to avoid all forks and are cautious amid the spoons. The knife is the way to go: “The knives are right in the middle, they have an edge and can be sharp when they need to be. Not too sharp and not too dull. They’re smart. They have drive, fortitude, strength of character, and they may not be as sure of themselves around girls as the forks are, but they will find their confidence.” Her father’s words became a silent anthem to Amy and her friends, making it their goal to find the perfect, shiny steak knife in the drawer of eligible Syracuse males.

Forks, Knives, and Spoons by Leah DeCesare is a plucky story relevant to any college coed. DeCesare expresses the fears, dreams, and insecurities of the modern day college student. From yearnings to be loved to the realities of loveless families, it is all here. As the characters come to realize that the bonds they make in college are so different from any they have ever forged, the reader will revisit their own college days. Read more…