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Dale Dent's Diary
Relationship-hungry 27 year-old Dale Dent is as neurotic about sex and love as Bridget is about food and alcohol. He forecasts the possibility of eternal gay love, or at the very least, volcanic sex, through a daily success and failure barometer.
Like Bridget, Dale fears he’ll die alone and be discovered weeks later eaten by wild dogs. On the one hand, Dale is a romantic. He is intoxicated with the idea of getting a boyfriend. On the other hand, he is desperate to get laid. Dale’s best friend Richard (“the vulgarian” because he’s so crude) thinks Dale just needs to get laid. Dale agrees, but only with the kind of guy he wants to marry. So he desperately tries to crawl out of Singles Hell only to fling himself back in every chance he gets.
Can Dale escape singles hell and settle down into the loving relationship he dreams about? Find out in the hilarious new entry in gay fiction/contemporary romance. It’s packed with graphic bedroom antics, high comedy and thoughtful insights into gay men’s psyche
Like Bridget, Dale fears he’ll die alone and be discovered weeks later eaten by wild dogs. On the one hand, Dale is a romantic. He is intoxicated with the idea of getting a boyfriend. On the other hand, he is desperate to get laid. Dale’s best friend Richard (“the vulgarian” because he’s so crude) thinks Dale just needs to get laid. Dale agrees, but only with the kind of guy he wants to marry. So he desperately tries to crawl out of Singles Hell only to fling himself back in every chance he gets.
Can Dale escape singles hell and settle down into the loving relationship he dreams about? Find out in the hilarious new entry in gay fiction/contemporary romance. It’s packed with graphic bedroom antics, high comedy and thoughtful insights into gay men’s psyche
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2013
2 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 25, 2014
This story was great, light amusement with enough irony to give it substance. While shallow on the surface, this fictional diary had enough internal depth to anchor it. This mix not only made it a fast fun read, but left behind some common truths to ponder long after the book has been read.
February 25, 2014
Summary
“Dale Dent's Diary” by Woody Miller is described as a gay “Bridget Jones' Diary” and that's a fair description. It's also a sibling of “Sex in the City”. “Dale Dent's Diary” is a quick, fun read which follows the dating adventures of Dale. He's shallow about physical beauty, and has a problem liking anyone who finds him attractive. Dale's best friend, Richard, is the voice of reason and a repository of hilarious advice. “Dale Dent's Diary” is great for fans of chick lit or, in this case, dick lit. Amazon Prime members can borrow it for free, and occasional discounts are available. The $2.99 list price is a little steep for such a bon bon, but not terribly outlandish.
Fantasy World
The clubs, bars, and coffee shops are all too real as are the dating issues. Anyone who has been in the dating trenches will be able to commiserate.
Tingle Factor
The sex is more funny than hot. Enjoy the laughs and get your kicks elsewhere.
Romance
Dale finds someone attractive at least twice a day. He also goes from attraction to wedding planning inside of 30 seconds. However, the moment the other man likes him back, Dale is thinking of “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”. Beware of romantic whiplash!
Drama
For all the emotional issues, there really isn't too much angst. Dale has plenty of baggage, but readers are kept skimming along the top.
Hero
Dale is a modern, metropolitan gay man in search of his Prince Charming. Even with ALL of his issues, he's very likeable. You will want him to find true love even as he gets in his own way over and over again. I did have a few Olympia Dukakis moments where I wanted to yell “Snap out of it!”
“Dale Dent's Diary” by Woody Miller is described as a gay “Bridget Jones' Diary” and that's a fair description. It's also a sibling of “Sex in the City”. “Dale Dent's Diary” is a quick, fun read which follows the dating adventures of Dale. He's shallow about physical beauty, and has a problem liking anyone who finds him attractive. Dale's best friend, Richard, is the voice of reason and a repository of hilarious advice. “Dale Dent's Diary” is great for fans of chick lit or, in this case, dick lit. Amazon Prime members can borrow it for free, and occasional discounts are available. The $2.99 list price is a little steep for such a bon bon, but not terribly outlandish.
Fantasy World
The clubs, bars, and coffee shops are all too real as are the dating issues. Anyone who has been in the dating trenches will be able to commiserate.
Tingle Factor
The sex is more funny than hot. Enjoy the laughs and get your kicks elsewhere.
Romance
Dale finds someone attractive at least twice a day. He also goes from attraction to wedding planning inside of 30 seconds. However, the moment the other man likes him back, Dale is thinking of “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”. Beware of romantic whiplash!
Drama
For all the emotional issues, there really isn't too much angst. Dale has plenty of baggage, but readers are kept skimming along the top.
Hero
Dale is a modern, metropolitan gay man in search of his Prince Charming. Even with ALL of his issues, he's very likeable. You will want him to find true love even as he gets in his own way over and over again. I did have a few Olympia Dukakis moments where I wanted to yell “Snap out of it!”
May 4, 2017
Happy to be Wrong
I don't like romances written as diary entries. I see a date heading a chapter and I'm done, over, scrolling on by. So why did my hand hesitate over the mouse, hover and then hit send sample of Dale Dent's Diary? Was it the cute cartoon cover or the clever alliteration of the title? Who knows?
I can tell you why this book went from sample to sale...it made me laugh. From Dale's friend coming at him with tweezers to the weather forecast style predictions of his sex life, this book is pure pleasure.
I don't like romances written as diary entries --- unless Woody Miller writes them :)
I don't like romances written as diary entries. I see a date heading a chapter and I'm done, over, scrolling on by. So why did my hand hesitate over the mouse, hover and then hit send sample of Dale Dent's Diary? Was it the cute cartoon cover or the clever alliteration of the title? Who knows?
I can tell you why this book went from sample to sale...it made me laugh. From Dale's friend coming at him with tweezers to the weather forecast style predictions of his sex life, this book is pure pleasure.
I don't like romances written as diary entries --- unless Woody Miller writes them :)
February 23, 2014
Such a hard book to review! It starts out like a true diary, but over time Dale becomes more analytical about his relationship wants and needs, and why he has consistently sabotaged them over the years, and then I lost the feeling of diary. Past the first few months, the dates became irrelevant, other than I noticed that the book chronicled about 2 years (why this time frame?). The writing is witty, entertaining, and at times laugh out loud funny, alternating with scenes where you just nod you head and think "So true, and so sad". Throughout the first 80% of the book it was a solid 4 stars for me, but then the end wrapped up so abruptly it didn't make any sense. Dale is aware of the fact that he has consistently undermined his previous 3 relationships at the same point and in the same way, but there is no sense that he knows why he does it, or that he is doing anything to try to find out and change the pattern. And then, he finds his reasons (through a search that supposedly took place over a 2 year period, though there is no mention of it elsewhere in the diary), has a light bulb "aha" moment, and
So in the end I felt cheated. But I still give the book 3 stars because it was so clever up until the end.
So in the end I felt cheated. But I still give the book 3 stars because it was so clever up until the end.
July 30, 2015
Hilarious, but also heartwarming in places, this book isn’t a typical ‘meet some one and fall in love’ romance. The book is about one man’s journey through a plethora of relationships, laughs, love, heartache and mistakes as he tries to figure out why he can’t seem to find the right guy. Dale’s character does start off as a bit whiny and superficial, but these are his diary entries. If you stick with it, you begin to glean little hidden bits about who Dale really is.
The sucker-punch comes at about 50% in, where a very short but insightful diary entry beautifully describes the heartache Dale is really feeling below the surface-character often presented in the other diary entries. Coupled with the character Richard, this book offered a wonderfully funny yet emotional glimpse into Dale’s life. While it does end a bit abruptly, that ending emphasizes that this book wasn’t about the romance – it was about the journey, and it was a journey I had a wonderful time reading.
The sucker-punch comes at about 50% in, where a very short but insightful diary entry beautifully describes the heartache Dale is really feeling below the surface-character often presented in the other diary entries. Coupled with the character Richard, this book offered a wonderfully funny yet emotional glimpse into Dale’s life. While it does end a bit abruptly, that ending emphasizes that this book wasn’t about the romance – it was about the journey, and it was a journey I had a wonderful time reading.
February 22, 2014
Dale Dents Diary is a book about just that! It is written in a diary format and it's all about Dale ! And surprisingly it works! The story was so funny that I laughed out loud on almost every page! And I loved the character growth in Dale! Now I'm looking into the future and I see a Sequel about Richard??? his best friend and need to see how Dale is doing! It ended rather eruptly if I say so myself! The only thing that slightly irritated me was that there were so many names mentioned, And that one entry Dale is doing something and the very next entry he is doing something different it only happened maybe twice! But It was at times hard to keep up! But it was so small it doesn't take away from the story ! I highly recommend this! It's a very funny light read!
February 22, 2014
My rating has to do with my personal taste, not the quality of the book. It's well written and funny. It's also kind of humor I find painful, and maybe a little too close to home. A lot of us have lived through this sort of shooting ourselves in the foot, being well aware of our modus operandi, but repeating ourselves regardless. A dear friend in my long ago past pretty much lived this. I smile, grimace, and sigh. It's also a record of self-examination, but one that's difficult to listen to after awhile. You know what I mean if you've ever been the sounding board for a friend who's paying very close attention to his/her personal journey. I love the way the ending is written.
February 21, 2014
4-4.5 stars
I think what I most enjoyed about this is that I got to see a different side of Dale Dent in the last half. All that self depracation used for humour sort of ended up being a cover he uses to hide his vulnerability and pain from past experiences. I find myself highlighting quite a lot because the emotions and fears conveyed were genuine and perhaps a little heartbreaking.
There's a lot of laughs in this too so don't be misled or put off by what I've mentioned so far.
All in all a very nice although somewhat quick read
I think what I most enjoyed about this is that I got to see a different side of Dale Dent in the last half. All that self depracation used for humour sort of ended up being a cover he uses to hide his vulnerability and pain from past experiences. I find myself highlighting quite a lot because the emotions and fears conveyed were genuine and perhaps a little heartbreaking.
There's a lot of laughs in this too so don't be misled or put off by what I've mentioned so far.
All in all a very nice although somewhat quick read
March 13, 2014
This very short gay version of Bridget Jones' Diary is peculiar indeed.
Writing is essentially flawless but the story has no real bite to it. Dale remains a foreign, rather unlikeable character and the situations depicted, familiar though they are to me and -I think- to many other gay men who have been on the "dating-ground", fail to arouse any sympathy.
I am sorry to say that, after a couple of pages, I got terminally bored.
Writing is essentially flawless but the story has no real bite to it. Dale remains a foreign, rather unlikeable character and the situations depicted, familiar though they are to me and -I think- to many other gay men who have been on the "dating-ground", fail to arouse any sympathy.
I am sorry to say that, after a couple of pages, I got terminally bored.
June 8, 2016
FUN AND SWEET
Dale Dent is a bit of a basket case. Doesn't have a steady boyfriend. He clearly has commitment issues. But, the fun of it is how cool, confused and funny he is. Really like the humor and the gay lifestyle that the author describes. And this author is a keeper. Smart AND witty. Two fiction writer qualifications I admire and enjoy. And this book was a bit different from the norm. That's always a plus.
readers like me
Dale Dent is a bit of a basket case. Doesn't have a steady boyfriend. He clearly has commitment issues. But, the fun of it is how cool, confused and funny he is. Really like the humor and the gay lifestyle that the author describes. And this author is a keeper. Smart AND witty. Two fiction writer qualifications I admire and enjoy. And this book was a bit different from the norm. That's always a plus.
readers like me
July 17, 2016
Dale does not come across as a terribly likable guy for most of this book. Funny, but not likeable. He ruins every relationship he is in and then complains that he wants a relationship. I have to say that he redeems himself in those last few chapters when he finally takes the time to look at what he is doing and the reasoning behind it.
August 7, 2016
Witty with a lesson, but scattered and drops stories with resolution. Almost a series of vignettes, but also a stream of poorly related experiences. Some errors with the interrelated dates as well. Overall a very light beach read about a gay man finding his romantic place in the world. However it needed stronger writing to pull it off.
November 16, 2016
Vacation reading. Not thrilled. There are some funny moments but there really is no character development. Little conflict and almost no climax. It just sort of ends at the first sign of trouble. One would think that the book would not just start going and then end in the last 10 pages.
March 11, 2014
Amusing and slightly funny gay man's diary. Made me laugh at times, so definately upping the stars. Thanks for this one, I really enjoyed it.
February 28, 2014
Angsty, whiney chick lit with anal sex
March 17, 2014
I thought it could have been a chapter or two longer to have some closure...
September 5, 2016
This is a lot like Bridget Jones' Diary. Which I didn't enjoy.
December 20, 2015
Good book
I thought Dale was a very likable character. The story was realistic and I read it in a few hours.
I thought Dale was a very likable character. The story was realistic and I read it in a few hours.
Want to read
February 20, 2014Free on Amazon 2/20/14
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews