One of the most compelling characters in Grant Ginder's new novel is Nina, who doesn't like herself. She enrolls at Northwestern for business school and talks and talks about the program. ("My cohort was asked to pack a bag--and just show up at the airport for a mystery trip!" "When two people within my cohort get married, the rest of us say it's a joint venture ....") Nina briefly works on improving school lunch health in the Bronx, mainly so she can talk about her virtuous efforts (efforts that become a source of tedious monologues at parties). When Nina realizes that her Bronx project is never going to secure her a house in Sag Harbor, she just switches to an easier job at Google. One evening, alone, Nina discovers that an old frenemy is living nearby. She invites herself for dinner--and for a game of Celebrity. ("I'm really great at Celebrity," says Nina, to no one who cares.) Later, having intruded on a private conversation, Nina is c...