The Middle Swipe Crisis: A Midlife Dating Memoir

by Nico Drew

A Hilarious and Heartfelt Story of Midlife Mayhem and Second Chances

The Middle Swipe Crisis introduces Dave 42, recently divorced, greying at speed, and doing his best not to completely fall apart. His rented semi, affectionately nicknamed The Halfway House, is cluttered with children's toys, emotional baggage, and the faint whiff of existential panic.

Between awkward Tinder chats, shared custody chaos, and a career he mostly pretends to care about, Dave is doing his best to rebuild a life he barely recognises. But what starts as a comedy of dating disasters soon becomes something a moving and unexpectedly profound tale of self-discovery, fatherhood, and emotional resilience.

A Story of Emotional Honesty and Relatable Chaos

At its heart, The Middle Swipe Crisis is about what happens after the happily-ever-after collapses. It’s about trying to be a decent dad without having all the answers, finding humour in heartbreak, and discovering that personal growth sometimes looks like talking to your rice cooker or being outshone by your nine-year-old daughter’s emotional intelligence.

Packed with dry wit, laugh-out-loud moments, and moments of quiet heartbreak, Dave’s journey will strike a chord with anyone who's ever felt like they’re winging it through life while everyone else seems to have it sorted.

If you’ve ever been ghosted, Googled “what is a soft launch?”, or cried in your car while holding a lukewarm coffee, this one’s for you.

Perfect for fans of Nick Hornby, David Nicholls and Milly Johnson, this is a warm, sharply observed novel about second chances, imperfect parenting, and finding your way back to yourself, one swipe at a time.

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 24, 2025

Reviews

[Susanne Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a unexpected emotional rollercoaster read. I found I could relate and identify with Dave and his overwhelming emotions more than I thought possible. I have recently discovered that I read very few books by male authors, and even fewer that are just the male pov. This was a refreshing read. It wasn’t trying to be anything but honest. Even though I am not a man, nor am I going through a divorce, the emotions Dave goes through were so real. Anyone who has stared down that spirally pit of anxiety, loneliness and depression can relate. It consumes your life and it feels like all the colour is gone, your brain is a fog and nothing is important. Dave was in that spiral and it was interesting to see him slowly come out of it. Joan the chain smoking elderly neighbour, was just the person to give him a real honest talking to.

I loved watching him grow, finding his feet in the workplace, being a good friend and dad. I have to say, a part of me was hoping for a reunion with his ex wife Claire, but by the end I was thinking, no, don’t listen to her putting you down and trying to take your kids away, fight for full custody if she’s going to Edinburgh as you can give them just as much as she can, without them moving schools or making new friends. The ending did give me a bit of hope that there would be a sequel as he does just that. Come on Dave we’re all rooting for you!

This was a great, refreshing read, and I think more people need to know about it and read it. A great debut by Nico Drew.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty, Wounded, and Wonderfully Real: Morrison’s Midlife Reset Is a Joy to Read

Dave Morrison isn’t having a midlife crisis; he’s living through a recalibration. In this beautifully written and insightful novel, a recently divorced father is trying to navigate dating apps, shared custody, and the often absurd realities of starting over in your 40s. What could have leaned heavily into cliché delivers a heartfelt, humorous story full of relatable moments.

The dialogue is natural, and the humor lands in just the right places. Particularly memorable are the supporting characters, neighbor Joan and friend Martin, who bring depth, charm to the story. Their interactions with Dave are among the book’s most enjoyable scenes.

Despite the comedic undertone, there’s real emotional honesty here. The book touches on grief, uncertainty, and the gradual process of personal growth. An engaging read for anyone wondering if it’s possible to rebuild with grace and a little bit of laughter.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with humor and heart.

[James Thomas Lynde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally Relatable!

Good story that is totally relatable about a guy Dave and his post divorce experience trying to date and stay close to his kids. The fun thing about this story is that even if you’re not divorced, you can see yourself in Dave’s messy life. Well written and captivating through the author’s humor. Well done!

[Gregg Sapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Dave Morrison, the reality of divorce hits him on the first night alone in his new abode. “I found myself flicking the light switch on and off, as if a bit of activity might fool the house into feeling lived-in, or at least distract me from an echo.” Dave ponders his uncertain future with guilt, doubt, and confusion that plague his conscience and distract his mind. Even though he remains determined to meet the responsibilities of a job and two young children, he worries that he is failing.

In “The Middle Swipe Crisis,” subtitled “A Midlife Dating Memoir (That’s Mostly Fiction),” British novelist Nico Drew conveys readers through the first four months of Dave’s transition. Understandably, at first he’s a wreck, as if, “I’m pretending to be a grownup and someone’s about to find out I’ve blagged the whole thing.” The novel’s essential plot, around which all relationships and adventures revolve, depicts Dave’s evolution from a clueless and depressed divorcee into a man in his prime with such renewed confidence and charisma that coworkers remark, “Dave’s transformation has been remarkable.”

Drew writes with feeling, irony, and understated humor. The most comedic, and perhaps sympathetic passages occur during a men’s “wilderness weekend,” which Dave attends with his equally lovelorn friend, Martin. When they arrive, Dave observes:

"I noticed a small side table with a passive aggressive rules board propped up on it, a manifesto for joyless living. The board read: No Phones. No Negativity. No Socks in the Meditation Area. No Masturbation – this includes energetic self-touch. Gratitude in Mandatory.
I stared at it. Martin dropped his bag onto the lower bunk. “The last time I saw a list like this was outside a strip club in Berlin.”

The author inserts several literate touches in the narrative, and he has a knack for humorous metaphors and similes. However, Dave’s rapid and nearly miraculous blossoming after divorce feels contrived. There’s a “chicken soup for the soul” quality to this work, with little tension that isn’t quickly resolved—indeed, the overall tone is gently facetious. Readers looking for an affirmative story of one man’s personal renewal won’t mind the lack of complexity, but others partial to grittier realism might shake their heads at how perfectly everything falls into place for Dave.

Finally, be advised that the ending suggests that there will likely be a sequel.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure what I was expecting and not sure if I was expecting this. This book has it all. For some this book can be more relatable than ever! Will have you on an emotional ride!