Books like Reluctant Hero by Sandra Paul

Raised with limited peer interaction, Ernestine St Bennett has difficulty interpreting social cues. At twenty-five she's become an aloner; a shy nerd immersed in her scientific studies, whose best friend is her pet fish, Waldo. Then Ernestine meets Simon Prime, who's obviously a nerd, too! Sympathizing with his social dysfunction, Ernie decides to help poor Simon increase his self-esteem and thus enhance his social standing. Using principles learned in her fish studies, she'll simply turn Simon from meek to macho. What Ernestine doesn't know (but Waldo suspects) is that Simon Prime is really ex-cop, private investigator Sam Pierce in disguise. A man who definitely doesn't need his masculinity enhanced! Ernestine, a shy nerd who uses her knowledge of fish to help Simon, who's actually a former cop, improve his social standing, learns more about herself and the world around her.

First publish date: 1994