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Book Review of The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1)

The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1)
crytal avatar reviewed on + 155 more book reviews


"The Rosie Project" is probably my new favorite love story. Ironically, there is very little "love" in it. At least not in the traditional sense. It was certainly no Julie Garwood or Catherine Coulter. And yet, there was so much non-traditional love, that it melted my heart.

I found that I have many of the same qualities as the main character, Don. In fact, there were lines at the end that nearly had me in tears because it was so true to my life, and I completely understood where Don was coming from when he thought them. "I was not wired to feel love. And faking it was not acceptable. Not to me." And then, "I knew so much shit and I still couldn't fix myself."

Don is a Professor, who (most likely) has Asperger's. Though it is only hinted at through the story-telling, and subtly brought up by a supporting character, we never really know. For logical reasons, Don decides that he needs a wife, and starts working on The Wife Project. (Which, by the way, I think is bloody brilliant!) The Wife Project consists of a 30-something page questionnaire, internet dating sites, speed dating and a blind date. Throughout the book, he slowly realizes that these methods are not working and gives up on the project. It's not really giving anything away to say that Don falls for the 1 person he found wholly unsuitable, it was quite predictable just from reading the jacket. But this book wasn't really about the ending, it was how Don and Rosie get there. And that is how you get suckered in to loving the characters and their story.