A "meta" novel about writing a novel

I sense that Emily Adrian wants it both ways in her novel Seduction Theory. She would like readers to be engaged with and care about her characters while at the same time she wants to be admired for how clever she is at inventing this story and doesn't care whether the characters engage you.

The book is a new version of an familiar story. There are four main characters:
—Roberta, early 20s, narrator, graduate creative writing student;
—Simone. early 40s, gorgeous, tenured writing teacher, married to
—Ethan, adjunct writing teacher, author of one successful novel; and
—Abigale, department secretary, single mother.

Roberta is attracted to Simone who, apparently unconsciously, feeds Roberta's infatuation. Ethan, in a moment of stupidity and foolishness, has sex with Abigale. Complications ensue. (Universities don't like it when faculty, married or not, become involved with students.)

Sometimes the book we're reading is the novel Roberta is writing (or has written) for her MFA. Sometimes, Adrian as the author, breaks the fourth wall and has Roberta step out of the narrative to address the reader directly as though the novel is an account of actual events. However, when we're in the novel we have access to the thoughts and motivations and actions of Simone and Ethan that Roberta could not know but that she, Roberta, as an author can invent. 

An ongoing issue is that the characters want it both ways. As Adrian writes, "[Simone] wanted it both ways. She wanted it many ways. To point a finger at Ethan and say, This man betrayed me! To draw him close and promise he would never have to live without her love. To go on presenting their marriage as ironclad. To earn extra credit for her suffering. To divorce him and be admired by hordes of men. To marry him again. To humiliate Abigale once and for all. To call me [Roberta] on the telephone."

In my experience, the problem with wanting it both ways, whatever "it" may be, is that you often end up with neither. Nevertheless, I am pleased to have read Seduction Theory. Within the writing department's politics she drops some thoughts about writing which are always welcome: " . . . consider specificity of conflict, and the inevitability of its resolution." Words to live by.