Chick lit lovers can rejoice.

In the genre that seemingly appeared out of nowhere to fill the space between trashy romance novels and novels that deal with the problems of the average twentysomething woman, Jane Green is one of its obvious queens.

Her novels have dealt with a wide array of problems for young, professional women. She now has chosen to tackle one of the scariest creatures known to woman: the mother-in-law.

“The Other Woman” is not about a man having an affair, as the title may imply. Green instead explores the relationship that exists between a recently married young woman and her domineering mother-in-law. The protagonist, Ellie Black, at first welcomes the presence of her caring, if slightly overbearing, mother-in-law but soon finds herself in a mad power struggle over control of her husband and later her son.

The novel features several twists in the plot. It explores when Ellie and her husband Dan first meet up through their courtship and marriage. The reader can see Ellie and Linda’s relationship evolve from one in which Ellie actively tries to please her future family member to one in which Ellie begins to hiss and spit at the mention of Linda’s name.

Green has a masterful way of elevating her novel above the standard chick lit fare. Her characters are witty, intelligent and, most importantly, eminently human. Their personalities are complicated, each with an understandable motivation for what he or she does.

Actions truly speak louder than words in this novel. Although Linda and Ellie exchange all the necessary pleasantries, psychological warfare develops in their interactions. Despite Ellie’s desire to buy her own baby supplies, Linda delivers a massive stockpile of gifts right before the happy couple tries to throw its first party in their new home. Ellie retaliates by taking control over the one thing that she can rightfully claim: her new son, making Linda chartreuse with envy.

One of the most important issues Green addresses is the idea of building a family. It emphasizes the need to find a balance between the old and the new and the need to be willing to adapt to a new role.

Overall, “The Other Woman” is an entertaining and well-written book. As one reads, it’s easy to relate to the various characters and their problems. Best of all, they all seem like real people — a factor that is missing in many chick lit novels.