Get Your Dating Game on: A Field Guide to Playing for Kicks or Keeps

by Jennifer Worick, Robyn Neild (Illustrator), Robin Neild (Illustrator)

Dating is more complicated than ever – so many "scenes" to choose from and countless roads for scouting that perfect match. But unless he happens to be the mailman, Mr. Right is not going to knock on the front door. In this timely guide, Jennifer Worick offers sound, sensible advice based on real-life case studies – complete with play-by-plays of what went right and what went wrong. Worick covers personal ads, the Internet, dating services, speed dating, and that old standby, the set-up, with the pros and cons of each discussed. Filled with engaging and humorous illustrations, the book also includes an invaluable flirting crib sheet and tips for creating the perfect bio, profiling prospects, and pacing a date.

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2003

About the author

I write. That’s rather obvious. Mostly I write about things that blow my skirt up. Humor is a big—huge—part of everything I do. But then there’s that soft, squishy sentimental part of me that can’t help but rear its heartfelt head. And since I like to tell people what to do every chance I get, I write a lot of how-to books, blogs, and articles.

Humorous. Heartfelt. How-to. Three great tastes that taste great together, at least in my cereal bowl.

So let’s get down to it. I know you don’t have all day to ogle my bio, as much as a girl can dream. Here’s what you should know off the bat: I’m the New York Times best-selling author of more than 25 books and, per Reader’s Digest, one of the four funniest bloggers in the US. Pretty cool, eh?

I’ve written on everything under the sun for national magazines and websites like The Huffington Post, Allure, and Salon, and I currently write a books column for today.com. In addition to bookshelves, newsstands, and your favorite websites, you can also find me online at Things I Want to Punch in the Face.

Along with fellow author and publishing pro Kerry Colburn, I deliver publishing talks, workshops, and webinars to help burgeoning authors get published through The Business of Books. You can also catch me in university auditoriums, where I offer up side-splitting but informative slide-show presentations based on my popular books.

Originally from Southwestern Michigan, I currently live in Seattle, where I eschew fleece while eating more fish and chips than is good for me.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and practical handbook on all things dating! Worick’s writing style is sassy, irreverent, and conversational, which makes for a fun bit of light reading. Unfortunately, as a result of it being published in the early 2000s, some of the advice is criminally outdated (like sending the guy a follow-up email after your date, or recommendations of online dating services that I’m not sure if they’re active anymore) but I feel like it’s easy enough to tell when something still applies to the modern dating world.
Some of Worick’s advice is tongue-in-cheek (such as her instructions to dump a guy if he wears bad shoes), but most is genuinely helpful for the single lady of today. She even covers little things that you might never think of, like good and bad foods to order on a first date, what to pack in your purse, and appropriate gifts for different holidays based on how long you’ve been dating.
And to top it all off, the distinctly 2000s illustrations are adorable!