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The Serial Dater: 31 dates in 31 days... what could go wrong? An endearing British dating novel
31 Men... in 31 Days!
Izzy is a journalist who usually writes a technology column for a local newspaper. Her somewhat-intimidating boss William sets her the task of dating thirty-one men, via an internet dating site, all within a month, and writing about it for the paper.
Having an active, though fruitless, social life with her friend Donna, Izzy knows what she wants in a man, so creates a shopping list of dos and don'ts and starts ticking them off as she meets the men.
Follow the ups and downs of the dating process including Tim 'the Weeble', whose date leads Izzy to see banoffee pie in a whole new light, Lawrence the super-skinny social worker, Felix with his bizarre penchant for Persian Piranhas, and 'the music maestro but don't talk about dead pets' Jake.
By the end of the month, will Izzy have met Mr Right?
Izzy is a journalist who usually writes a technology column for a local newspaper. Her somewhat-intimidating boss William sets her the task of dating thirty-one men, via an internet dating site, all within a month, and writing about it for the paper.
Having an active, though fruitless, social life with her friend Donna, Izzy knows what she wants in a man, so creates a shopping list of dos and don'ts and starts ticking them off as she meets the men.
Follow the ups and downs of the dating process including Tim 'the Weeble', whose date leads Izzy to see banoffee pie in a whole new light, Lawrence the super-skinny social worker, Felix with his bizarre penchant for Persian Piranhas, and 'the music maestro but don't talk about dead pets' Jake.
By the end of the month, will Izzy have met Mr Right?
- GenresRomance
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2020
12 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 1, 2021
By far one of the worst books I’ve ever read. I’m actually impressed with myself for managing to finish it, even if the only reason I did was in the vain hope it would improve. It didn’t. Thankfully it was a freebie or I’d feel extremely aggrieved that I’d wasted money on it.
Spoilers ahead!
I like chick lit books, I do. There’s something wonderful about reading books that you know 99% of the time will have a happy ending and don’t require you to turn into a CSI detective in order to understand what’s going on. However what a good chick lit book has is great characters, interesting settings and a plot. The serial dater loosely had one of these things.
Obviously the premise is as the title states, a woman does 31 dates in a month for her newspaper column. So the plot is there. However why is a supposed technology expert (as that’s her job title, though as the book continues on the only technology she seems to constantly bring up is to tell you how to flick screens on a computer - there’s at least 5 of these and it’s inane) at a local newspaper suddenly the dating columnist? It makes no sense, along with the supposed freebies Izzy (the main character) gets from companies for reviewing them. Sorry but I don’t think many major companies give out free stuff to town newspapers in England. But hey ho this isn’t the biggest problem with this book. Oh and I do wonder if the authors were hoping for some sort of sponsorship from either Levi’s, Ben and Jerry’s or any of the other products they name a dozen times over throughout this book.
Oh no, the biggest issue with this book is how judgemental Izzy, and the vast majority of other reoccurring characters, are whilst vehemently trying to tell you they’re not. It’s starts off with the poor security guard her friend (who quite frankly is dull as dishwater) is seeing and it’s a massive issue. Not because he’s mistreated her, nor does Izzy care that her friend is saying she loves this guy (another theme because this book is meant to run over a month hey she tells two people she loves them in this time), but it’s a major problem because he’s fat. And while Donna (the friend) has already been sleeping with him, presumably with her eyes open so knows what he looks like, and has stated she loves him, that’s not good enough. He’s not good enough. Neither is any man in this book who is either overweight or slim (to the point Izzy seems to believe anyone very slim is anorexic).
BUT! It’s ok but this book isn’t just sizest it’s sexist. Hiding behind equality of early on pointing out it’s unfair women have to be a certain size or look a certain way the authors certainly rectify this by annihilating any man who’s not a perfect specimen. On top of that we have comments on clothing, interest and hobbies, facial features as well. For good measure there’s also a few racial stereotypes. Also I do have to wonder if the authors have some sort of weird obsession with America, there are random tidbits thrown in when it’s completely unnecessary (on top of them clearly using a thesaurus and popping in the odd word that is so ridiculous it’s a bit like that friends episode when Joey signs his email ‘baby kangaroo’).
Finally just to top it off the ending is so cliched and badly written it would be unbelievable in any other book but in this one is just par for the course. I honestly wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone unless you’re in a competition to find the worst book published. In which case I think I’ve saved you time and found it for you.
Spoilers ahead!
I like chick lit books, I do. There’s something wonderful about reading books that you know 99% of the time will have a happy ending and don’t require you to turn into a CSI detective in order to understand what’s going on. However what a good chick lit book has is great characters, interesting settings and a plot. The serial dater loosely had one of these things.
Obviously the premise is as the title states, a woman does 31 dates in a month for her newspaper column. So the plot is there. However why is a supposed technology expert (as that’s her job title, though as the book continues on the only technology she seems to constantly bring up is to tell you how to flick screens on a computer - there’s at least 5 of these and it’s inane) at a local newspaper suddenly the dating columnist? It makes no sense, along with the supposed freebies Izzy (the main character) gets from companies for reviewing them. Sorry but I don’t think many major companies give out free stuff to town newspapers in England. But hey ho this isn’t the biggest problem with this book. Oh and I do wonder if the authors were hoping for some sort of sponsorship from either Levi’s, Ben and Jerry’s or any of the other products they name a dozen times over throughout this book.
Oh no, the biggest issue with this book is how judgemental Izzy, and the vast majority of other reoccurring characters, are whilst vehemently trying to tell you they’re not. It’s starts off with the poor security guard her friend (who quite frankly is dull as dishwater) is seeing and it’s a massive issue. Not because he’s mistreated her, nor does Izzy care that her friend is saying she loves this guy (another theme because this book is meant to run over a month hey she tells two people she loves them in this time), but it’s a major problem because he’s fat. And while Donna (the friend) has already been sleeping with him, presumably with her eyes open so knows what he looks like, and has stated she loves him, that’s not good enough. He’s not good enough. Neither is any man in this book who is either overweight or slim (to the point Izzy seems to believe anyone very slim is anorexic).
BUT! It’s ok but this book isn’t just sizest it’s sexist. Hiding behind equality of early on pointing out it’s unfair women have to be a certain size or look a certain way the authors certainly rectify this by annihilating any man who’s not a perfect specimen. On top of that we have comments on clothing, interest and hobbies, facial features as well. For good measure there’s also a few racial stereotypes. Also I do have to wonder if the authors have some sort of weird obsession with America, there are random tidbits thrown in when it’s completely unnecessary (on top of them clearly using a thesaurus and popping in the odd word that is so ridiculous it’s a bit like that friends episode when Joey signs his email ‘baby kangaroo’).
Finally just to top it off the ending is so cliched and badly written it would be unbelievable in any other book but in this one is just par for the course. I honestly wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone unless you’re in a competition to find the worst book published. In which case I think I’ve saved you time and found it for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2021
Dull
I persevered because this book has a sequel, but I haven't discovered why. Written in the first person, but reached the end of the book and still don't feel I know her - almost no clues about her appearance (she's tall and wears glasses) or her character. Given some of the characters she encounters the reader might expect her to experience a range of emotions but nope - automaton. Some humour might have livened up some of the chapters. The book was dissatisfying, and frankly, boring
I persevered because this book has a sequel, but I haven't discovered why. Written in the first person, but reached the end of the book and still don't feel I know her - almost no clues about her appearance (she's tall and wears glasses) or her character. Given some of the characters she encounters the reader might expect her to experience a range of emotions but nope - automaton. Some humour might have livened up some of the chapters. The book was dissatisfying, and frankly, boring
April 21, 2026
This is a very witty book! Indeed, it is "laugh out loud" funny in places. This book's storyline is a technology journalist's undercover exploration of online dating. The variety of her dates is credible and provides plenty of anarchic humour. It is easy to identify with the main character and her situations. Meanwhile, her real, unrecognised romantic lead waits... Short sections make this book a great companion for a train journey, or for breaks in a busy day. I enjoyed it and will buy more from this author.
October 13, 2021
Online Dating
Excellent read, and thoroughly enjoyed reading someone's online dating exploits. Having experienced online dating myself. I would also recommend it. Just out of sheer curiosity and especially if you're looking for "the one".
Excellent read, and thoroughly enjoyed reading someone's online dating exploits. Having experienced online dating myself. I would also recommend it. Just out of sheer curiosity and especially if you're looking for "the one".
July 4, 2022
Never to old to learn.
I’m 60 and so enjoyed reading this book. I learnt so much about my self and other people. If anyone can read this without asking a few questions I’ll be surprised. Great.
I’m 60 and so enjoyed reading this book. I learnt so much about my self and other people. If anyone can read this without asking a few questions I’ll be surprised. Great.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews