To say that Diane Kurasik loves movies would be a bit of an understatement. She's been a movie buff all of her life and is now the director of a small revival cinema in Greenwich Village. She loves her life, but wishes she had someone to share it with.

Diane, who is nearing her fortieth birthday, is tired of being the lost cause of her family and friends. She’s the recipient of unending unwanted blind dates. In fact, she's been on so many terrible blind dates that she's become an expert. She’s even begun to categorize them by their “specialties” – the only topic they seem capable of discussing – from dentistry to rock climbing, she's seen it all. She’s also escaped many a date before dessert was served.

When the busy body on the theater's board suggests that they acquire the rundown building next door and expand, Diane decides to take on the challenge. In the process she meets architect Vladimir Hurtado Padron. While Vladimir holds title interest in film and can’t quote movie dialogue fluently as she can, Diane is intrigued by him. Maybe this one is worth the chance of being hurt.

Valerie Block, author of Was It Something I Said, brings a whole new spin to  contemporary lit. Part social commentary, part chick-lit, this book was a fun,  thought-provoking read. Block takes a series of very different characters and weaves their lives together in a way that the reader won’t expect. She’s not afraid to tackle social issues and allows her characters to speak their mind.

I found Don’t Make a Scene quite interesting. While I had a vague knowledge of American relations with Cuba, it was fascinating to get a glimpse of what a Cuban-American might experience through Vladimir. Diane and her movie references were charming and yet I would have enjoyed it more if I had been familiar with more of them. The fault lies with me, though, as the author’s use of the movies weaved throughout is what makes this story entertaining.