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The Project
Not yet published
Expected 9 Jul 26Brought to you by Penguin.
A decade-defining romcom from beloved Vogue dating columnist Annie Lord
When Daisy wakes up next to James – the annoying black sheep of their friendship group – she can’t believe what she’s done.
The problem is there are no good men left. At least, that’s what Daisy and her best friend Maya think. They’re all taken. Even the average ones have beautiful, seemingly perfect girlfriends.
Fed up with modern dating, Daisy and Maya decide to start 'The Project' to create a good guy out of some frankly embarrassing raw material. And who better to start with than James, the man who once told her he's never cried in his entire life and sounded proud of that fact?
Embarking on a series of lessons, from pretentious art exhibitions to feminist book clubs, clothes shopping trips and messy house parties, Daisy takes James on a journey of discovery. But which one of them will change more?
Annie Lord 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
A decade-defining romcom from beloved Vogue dating columnist Annie Lord
When Daisy wakes up next to James – the annoying black sheep of their friendship group – she can’t believe what she’s done.
The problem is there are no good men left. At least, that’s what Daisy and her best friend Maya think. They’re all taken. Even the average ones have beautiful, seemingly perfect girlfriends.
Fed up with modern dating, Daisy and Maya decide to start 'The Project' to create a good guy out of some frankly embarrassing raw material. And who better to start with than James, the man who once told her he's never cried in his entire life and sounded proud of that fact?
Embarking on a series of lessons, from pretentious art exhibitions to feminist book clubs, clothes shopping trips and messy house parties, Daisy takes James on a journey of discovery. But which one of them will change more?
Annie Lord 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
Audible Audio
Expected publication July 9, 2026
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250 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 3, 2025
Thank you Harvill Books & Vintage Books for a proof!
Annie Lord’s The Project examines modern dating through a female perspective as we follow Daisy and her best friend Maya, who navigate their 20s in London. After a regrettable one-night stand with her friend James, Daisy begins to question why she and the intelligent, capable women around her face such limited romantic prospects. This leads to The Project: a structured reinvention of dating, with James serving as her initial test case, as he’s a stereotypical guy with laddish behaviour. As the premise unfolds, Daisy is forced to confront her feelings that intensify during this period.
Daisy is a compelling central figure who often reminds me of a younger Bridget Jones, and the interactions with Maya are marked by feminist discussions and candid exchanges that add depth to their friendship. James is also a great character as he is portrayed as a typical mid-twenties lad, shaped by common gendered assumptions.
This book reminded me of Everything I Know About Love as it’s similar in tone and theme as they both explore feminism, relationships (romantic and platonic), sex, and wider social attitudes. I really enjoyed the fun makeover and ‘friends to lovers’ tropes in this book, especially how it functions more as a mechanism for exploring emotional growth than as a traditional romance plot. An underrated part of the book was when Daisy went back home, and we saw more of her relationship with her mother, which added a lot of warmth to the story for me.
Overall, The Project offers a distinct and refreshing contribution to contemporary fiction. It’s a modern take on a rom-com as it’s a blend of humour and emotional honesty, and if you’re a fan of character-driven narratives that explore the complexities of modern relationships, you’ll love this book, which comes out in July 2026.
For a more in-depth review, here’s the link to my blog: https://sophslibrary.com/2025/12/03/t...
Annie Lord’s The Project examines modern dating through a female perspective as we follow Daisy and her best friend Maya, who navigate their 20s in London. After a regrettable one-night stand with her friend James, Daisy begins to question why she and the intelligent, capable women around her face such limited romantic prospects. This leads to The Project: a structured reinvention of dating, with James serving as her initial test case, as he’s a stereotypical guy with laddish behaviour. As the premise unfolds, Daisy is forced to confront her feelings that intensify during this period.
Daisy is a compelling central figure who often reminds me of a younger Bridget Jones, and the interactions with Maya are marked by feminist discussions and candid exchanges that add depth to their friendship. James is also a great character as he is portrayed as a typical mid-twenties lad, shaped by common gendered assumptions.
This book reminded me of Everything I Know About Love as it’s similar in tone and theme as they both explore feminism, relationships (romantic and platonic), sex, and wider social attitudes. I really enjoyed the fun makeover and ‘friends to lovers’ tropes in this book, especially how it functions more as a mechanism for exploring emotional growth than as a traditional romance plot. An underrated part of the book was when Daisy went back home, and we saw more of her relationship with her mother, which added a lot of warmth to the story for me.
Overall, The Project offers a distinct and refreshing contribution to contemporary fiction. It’s a modern take on a rom-com as it’s a blend of humour and emotional honesty, and if you’re a fan of character-driven narratives that explore the complexities of modern relationships, you’ll love this book, which comes out in July 2026.
For a more in-depth review, here’s the link to my blog: https://sophslibrary.com/2025/12/03/t...
Displaying 1 of 1 review