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Ed & Dan #1
The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook
"It's not me - it's you. You've let yourself go, so I'm letting you go too."
When Edward Middleton hears those words from Jane, his girlfriend of the past ten years, he knows he's in serious trouble. Determined to get her back, Edward must learn how to make women fancy him again. But what makes for a good boyfriend nowadays? Right now, he's the kind of man who puts the 'ex' into 'sexy'.
One thing is certain: if he's to be Jane's Mr Right, he needs to turn himself into a bit of all right. From Atkins and Botox, Edward begins working his way through the makeover alphabet. But can cuddly Teddy really become sexy Eddie? Can he rise from the ranks of discarded exes? Or has his journey of self-discovery taken him in a different direction entirely?
354 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
50 people are currently reading
1016 people want to read
About the author
Matt Dunn
23 books369 followersMatt was born in Margate, but eventually escaped to Spain to write his first novel (in between working as a newspaper columnist, and playing a lot of tennis). Previously he has been a professional lifeguard, fitness equipment salesman, and an IT head hunter, but he prefers writing for a living, so hopes people will keep buying his books.
Matt is the author of four contemporary romantic comedy novels; Best Man, The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook (which was shortlisted for both the Romantic Novel Of The Year award, as well as the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance), From Here To Paternity, and Ex-Girlfriends United. He's also written about life, love, and relationships for various publications including The Times, Guardian, Cosmopolitan, Company, Elle, Glamour, and The Sun.
Several of Matt's novels have been translated for various European markets (he's big in the Balkans, apparently), as well as as far afield as Malaysia and Indonesia. He's a regular on the literary festival scene, and rates the recent lecturing stint he did on the Creative Writing degree course at London Metropolitan University as one of the most rewarding things he's ever done - and not only because of the number of ideas he was able to appropriate from his students for his books.
Matt is the author of four contemporary romantic comedy novels; Best Man, The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook (which was shortlisted for both the Romantic Novel Of The Year award, as well as the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance), From Here To Paternity, and Ex-Girlfriends United. He's also written about life, love, and relationships for various publications including The Times, Guardian, Cosmopolitan, Company, Elle, Glamour, and The Sun.
Several of Matt's novels have been translated for various European markets (he's big in the Balkans, apparently), as well as as far afield as Malaysia and Indonesia. He's a regular on the literary festival scene, and rates the recent lecturing stint he did on the Creative Writing degree course at London Metropolitan University as one of the most rewarding things he's ever done - and not only because of the number of ideas he was able to appropriate from his students for his books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
May 6, 2013
Urnebesno zabavno i duhovito... Za ovu knjigu nagrađen je kao prvi muškarac koji je dobio tu nagradu... Romantic Book of the Year... :) Nažalost, grdne korice izdavača nisu doprineli popularizaciji ove knjige... :( Tražim mu novog izdavača...
April 9, 2013
"Edward. Let me get this straight. You've called me right in the middle of Antiques Roadshow just to tell me your girlfriend's gone to bed?"
Tibet, Dan. Jane's gone to Tibet. She's left me."
Poor Edward! Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined his girlfriend of ten years leaving him (and taking almost all the furniture!). He's despondent, and in a little bit of denial, so he calls his best friend Dan. Dan is a local television personality and he has had many girlfriends. Actually, Dan is a bit of a man-slut, bouncing between many one night stands and leaving a trail of angry women behind him. Dan comes to Edward's rescue and seeing that there is little furniture left in the apartment, they head off to the local pub to drown Edward's sorrows.
Jane left Edward a letter outlining her reasons for the breakup. She's upset that his career aspirations do not match hers. The most brutal remark was that she was unhappy with how Edward has let himself go. Edward consoles himself, convinced that he is Cuddly Teddy until Dan tells him the truth. Edward is fat, out of shape, and the smoking has got to stop. Dan helps Edward take stock of his life and Edward begins an incredible transformation.
The book is laugh out loud funny. Between Edward's self-deprecating sense of humor and Dan's exploits with the women and Wendy the barmaid's astute observations and pokes at Dan's manhood, I was chuckling and giggling throughout. Edward is such a likeable character, and so easy to relate to. The male point of view on relationships was quite enlightening as men really do think differently from women.
Edward makes a great protagonist. It's so easy to fall in love with his character. He is still head over heels in love with Jane, despite her rejection and stealth breakup. He tries to do everything he can to make himself more attractive for Jane, using her return date as his goal. Dan was hilarious with his often misguided dating and lifestyle advice.
The women in this book are strong and opinionated. Edward's boss Natasha was a little scary, but very entertaining with her attraction for rich, married men. Wendy the barmaid offered insightful advice as to what women expect from their men. Sam the trainer was adorable. She was perfect for Edward encouraging him to continue with his exercise regimen.
I think that what I liked most about this book was that Edward was given a wake up call. Rather than wallow in self-pity, he took stock of his life and made positive changes that benefited him. The transformation from Cuddly Teddy to Handsome Edward was amazing. I really enjoyed this book and I am glad that I discovered this author. I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Kobo free download 6/9/11 - (*no longer free).
November 29, 2010
2 words that describe the book―Male chick-lit
3 settings or characters I met
* Brighton, England, Present Day
* Edward Middleton comes home one day to find his apartment empty. No, he hasn’t been robbed; his girlfriend of 10 years, Jane, has left him. In her note, she says “It’s not me—it’s you.” It seems that Edward’s increasing weight, sloppiness and lack of ambition has made Jane rethink things. So she’s off to Tibet and will be back in three months. Edward decides he has three months to make himself over from head to toe in an effort to win Jane back. Is that enough time to get in shape, learn how to dress, give up smoking, attain personal style, relearn romance, and jump-start his career? Good thing he has his best friend to help him out.
* Dan is Edward’s best friend. Handsome and lucky with the ladies, Dan is everything Edward is not—groomed, fit, well-dressed, and sexy. (His job as a TV presenter doesn’t hurt either.) When Jane leaves Edward, Dan takes it upon himself to oversee Edward’s makeover. Despite the intensity of the challenge, Dan is game—sharing information on everything from his dentist to his waxer. Too bad Dan isn’t quite the Romeo he makes himself out to be; after all, most of his relationships don’t last longer than one night.
4 things I liked or disliked about the book:
* I thought it would be fun to read what essentially seems like a chick-lit book but from the point-of-view of a man. It was nice to see a man have to make himself over for a woman for a change … and for the woman to do the leaving instead of the man.
* Yet at the same time, this book didn’t have as different a feel as I thought it would. In fact, Edward felt incredibly familiar to me; he felt like … the heroine in a chick-lit book!
* The book was a fast, light read. Although it didn’t really break any new ground (despite the flip on the gender of the author and hero), it was still amusing and enjoyable. And I admit to laughing out loud at one particular scene where Edward brings a date home after speed dating (he is practicing for Jane’s return) and has a rather unfortunate accident with a tea cup that leads a rather comic misunderstanding.
* Although none of the characters are particularly well-developed (after all, this is light comedy … not literary fiction), I still struggled with the Dan character, who was such a jerk that I wondered why Edward even tolerated him. In fact, my favorite character was Wendy, the barmaid at Dan and Edward’s local pub. She was one of the few women in the book who saw through Dan’s good looks and gave him crap about his behavior.
5 stars or less for my rating
I’m giving the book 3.5 stars. If you’re looking for a light, fluffy read in the chick-lit genre that has a little twist to it, this would be a good choice. It is a fun read, but I found myself wishing that Edward felt … well, more like a man! If you’re a fan of chick-lit books, my guess is you would enjoy this book. Because chick-lit isn’t really “my thing,” I didn’t fall in love with this book, but it was a perfectly pleasant read and a good one for when I wasn’t feeling well.
3 settings or characters I met
* Brighton, England, Present Day
* Edward Middleton comes home one day to find his apartment empty. No, he hasn’t been robbed; his girlfriend of 10 years, Jane, has left him. In her note, she says “It’s not me—it’s you.” It seems that Edward’s increasing weight, sloppiness and lack of ambition has made Jane rethink things. So she’s off to Tibet and will be back in three months. Edward decides he has three months to make himself over from head to toe in an effort to win Jane back. Is that enough time to get in shape, learn how to dress, give up smoking, attain personal style, relearn romance, and jump-start his career? Good thing he has his best friend to help him out.
* Dan is Edward’s best friend. Handsome and lucky with the ladies, Dan is everything Edward is not—groomed, fit, well-dressed, and sexy. (His job as a TV presenter doesn’t hurt either.) When Jane leaves Edward, Dan takes it upon himself to oversee Edward’s makeover. Despite the intensity of the challenge, Dan is game—sharing information on everything from his dentist to his waxer. Too bad Dan isn’t quite the Romeo he makes himself out to be; after all, most of his relationships don’t last longer than one night.
4 things I liked or disliked about the book:
* I thought it would be fun to read what essentially seems like a chick-lit book but from the point-of-view of a man. It was nice to see a man have to make himself over for a woman for a change … and for the woman to do the leaving instead of the man.
* Yet at the same time, this book didn’t have as different a feel as I thought it would. In fact, Edward felt incredibly familiar to me; he felt like … the heroine in a chick-lit book!
* The book was a fast, light read. Although it didn’t really break any new ground (despite the flip on the gender of the author and hero), it was still amusing and enjoyable. And I admit to laughing out loud at one particular scene where Edward brings a date home after speed dating (he is practicing for Jane’s return) and has a rather unfortunate accident with a tea cup that leads a rather comic misunderstanding.
* Although none of the characters are particularly well-developed (after all, this is light comedy … not literary fiction), I still struggled with the Dan character, who was such a jerk that I wondered why Edward even tolerated him. In fact, my favorite character was Wendy, the barmaid at Dan and Edward’s local pub. She was one of the few women in the book who saw through Dan’s good looks and gave him crap about his behavior.
5 stars or less for my rating
I’m giving the book 3.5 stars. If you’re looking for a light, fluffy read in the chick-lit genre that has a little twist to it, this would be a good choice. It is a fun read, but I found myself wishing that Edward felt … well, more like a man! If you’re a fan of chick-lit books, my guess is you would enjoy this book. Because chick-lit isn’t really “my thing,” I didn’t fall in love with this book, but it was a perfectly pleasant read and a good one for when I wasn’t feeling well.
June 16, 2020
3.5 stars
When I first started reading this book it immediately captured my attention. As I continued to read along, I started to feel rather angry; and I considered adding it to my DNF pile. I decided to take a quick look over some of the other star reviews and I saw the majority were three stars; so I decided to keep reading. I am very glad I did, indeed, finish this book as it discusses some rather important relationship issues and the importance of loving ourselves for who we are as a person.
"The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook" is a fictional novel focusing on two main characters - Edward and Dan. Edward has spent his last ten years living happily in a stagnant relationship with his girlfriend Jane. Dan has spent his last ten years wining, dining, and bedding a different woman every night. Edward and Dan could not be any different from one another, but they are best friends who help each other discover who they are meant to be.
Edward's girlfriend Jane suddenly picks up, goes away leaving him a note explaining that he has let himself go and he must change himself if he wants to continue forward with their relationship. She has allowed him two months to change, and then she can decide whether she will accept the changed Edward. Dan starts to provide Edward dating/relationship advice all while trying to assist him making the necessary changes to win back Jane's affection and approval. Over time they learn to love who they are while they both embark on a journey of self discovery.
This is a typical "Chick-Lit" book; however it doesn't fit the"Chick-Lit" mould as it was written by a man, not a woman. It's still a great addition to the genre though and a must read for those who love it.
As mentioned above, I considered DNF'ing because this book made me angry, and I started to become angry with regards to some of the "shallow" personality traits of the male characters within the story; especially Dan. I wanted to reach through the pages and strangle him. Overall, shallowness aside, I really enjoyed this book and I loved seeing both Edward and Dan grow to accept themselves for who they are.
The story also focuses on the impacts of infidelity, self worth/acceptance, and encourages people to be who they want to be; and this is why I recommend this book to other readers. It is a satisfying read, although a little bit predictable, but what "Chick-Lit" book isn't just a little predictable?
When I first started reading this book it immediately captured my attention. As I continued to read along, I started to feel rather angry; and I considered adding it to my DNF pile. I decided to take a quick look over some of the other star reviews and I saw the majority were three stars; so I decided to keep reading. I am very glad I did, indeed, finish this book as it discusses some rather important relationship issues and the importance of loving ourselves for who we are as a person.
"The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook" is a fictional novel focusing on two main characters - Edward and Dan. Edward has spent his last ten years living happily in a stagnant relationship with his girlfriend Jane. Dan has spent his last ten years wining, dining, and bedding a different woman every night. Edward and Dan could not be any different from one another, but they are best friends who help each other discover who they are meant to be.
Edward's girlfriend Jane suddenly picks up, goes away leaving him a note explaining that he has let himself go and he must change himself if he wants to continue forward with their relationship. She has allowed him two months to change, and then she can decide whether she will accept the changed Edward. Dan starts to provide Edward dating/relationship advice all while trying to assist him making the necessary changes to win back Jane's affection and approval. Over time they learn to love who they are while they both embark on a journey of self discovery.
This is a typical "Chick-Lit" book; however it doesn't fit the"Chick-Lit" mould as it was written by a man, not a woman. It's still a great addition to the genre though and a must read for those who love it.
As mentioned above, I considered DNF'ing because this book made me angry, and I started to become angry with regards to some of the "shallow" personality traits of the male characters within the story; especially Dan. I wanted to reach through the pages and strangle him. Overall, shallowness aside, I really enjoyed this book and I loved seeing both Edward and Dan grow to accept themselves for who they are.
The story also focuses on the impacts of infidelity, self worth/acceptance, and encourages people to be who they want to be; and this is why I recommend this book to other readers. It is a satisfying read, although a little bit predictable, but what "Chick-Lit" book isn't just a little predictable?
May 19, 2012
The book begins with our hero, Edward, receiving one of the (if not the) worst Dear John letters imaginable. What's worse is that Edward soon realizes that every nasty thing enumerated in the letter is true. In her letter, Jane essentially has given Edward three months to fix himself, which will at least open the door for a discussion of their future.
So, with the guidance and help of his best friend/ladies' man/cad, the lady bartender from their pub, his lecherous/man-chasing boss, and his new personal trainer, Edward starts a process of self-improvement to become the kind of guy he imagines Jane wants him to be.
This was very funny book, a quick, light read that makes no pretensions of being anything but. It's a Nick Hornby/Jonathan Tropper book without the depth (which isn't a knock, Dunn doesn't seem to be going for depth--just enjoyment), it's more along the lines of a Mike Gayle or Jennifer Weiner book. Apparently the first of a series, I'm intrigued to see where they take things from here.
A lot of heart, a lot of laughs. All you can ask from it.
So, with the guidance and help of his best friend/ladies' man/cad, the lady bartender from their pub, his lecherous/man-chasing boss, and his new personal trainer, Edward starts a process of self-improvement to become the kind of guy he imagines Jane wants him to be.
This was very funny book, a quick, light read that makes no pretensions of being anything but. It's a Nick Hornby/Jonathan Tropper book without the depth (which isn't a knock, Dunn doesn't seem to be going for depth--just enjoyment), it's more along the lines of a Mike Gayle or Jennifer Weiner book. Apparently the first of a series, I'm intrigued to see where they take things from here.
A lot of heart, a lot of laughs. All you can ask from it.
June 15, 2017
Terrible. Misogynistic dialogue. Humor fell flat.
October 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this! Just a perfect quick, funny read with extremely loveable characters. I've just seen it's the first in a trilogy so I'll definitely be looking out for the other two.
December 5, 2015
Review copy provided by publisher
3½ stars
Why I Read this Book: I’ve seen The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook described as the male-equivalent to Bridget Jones’s Diary. I thought BJD was hilarious so I wanted to read The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook. I was even more curious to read a Chick-Lit book written from the main male character’s POV, figuring it would be quite a change from the norm. It was.
What I Liked: The book begins on January 16th, the day Edward discovers that Jane, his girlfriend of 10 years, has left him. The reader follows Edward through his 4 month self-discovery journey. Edward’s best friend, Dan, helps him through the process in a hilariously yet sincere (at least to Dan’s prospective) manner. These 4 months help Edward to assess and re-evaluate his relationship with Jane. The book ends on April 16, shortly after Jane has returned from her own self-discovery journey in Tibet. The whole time I was reading this book I wanted to know if they would get back together or not.
I grew fond of Edward’s character and I wanted to make sure that everything turned out right for him. He got a new insight to life and relationships. Edward really transforms himself, inside and out, and in the end he gets the HEA he deserves.
Dan and his ‘logic’ were most hysterical. Most of which was the blunt, honest truth. Dan doesn’t sugarcoat anything, nor does his mouth have a filter, he just tells it like he sees it. Dan’s analogies were sometimes spot on, sometimes not, but always down right hilarious.
Funny stuff that comes out of Dan’s mouth:
And here’s a word of advice from Edward’s personal trainer:
The funny part about this line is that it took place in a restaurant during the trainer’s assessment of Edward. No advanced equipment needed; just a jiggle test. These quotes still give me a good chuckle.
What I Didn’t Like: The beginning was a bit slow for me. But once Edward got over his woe is me pity party and started doing something about his situation, I was invested in finding out how his life was going to turn out.
There were a few times when I had to pause and think for a moment about what a particular word or phrase meant. Some I even had to Google. For instance: pint of snakebite (a drink of equal parts beer and cider), kerb (curb), boot of a car (the trunk), jumper (pull-over sweater), snog (kiss and cuddle) and aerial (antenna) – just to name a few. Nothing I couldn’t figure out but it did pause my reading from time to time.
Overall Impression: Fans of Bridget Jones’s Diary and Chick-Lit will love the male insight from Edward’s POV and the humor that comes along with it. They need to make of movie from this book! The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook would be a great Valentine’s Day read.
Review originally posted on The Book Vixen.
3½ stars
Why I Read this Book: I’ve seen The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook described as the male-equivalent to Bridget Jones’s Diary. I thought BJD was hilarious so I wanted to read The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook. I was even more curious to read a Chick-Lit book written from the main male character’s POV, figuring it would be quite a change from the norm. It was.
What I Liked: The book begins on January 16th, the day Edward discovers that Jane, his girlfriend of 10 years, has left him. The reader follows Edward through his 4 month self-discovery journey. Edward’s best friend, Dan, helps him through the process in a hilariously yet sincere (at least to Dan’s prospective) manner. These 4 months help Edward to assess and re-evaluate his relationship with Jane. The book ends on April 16, shortly after Jane has returned from her own self-discovery journey in Tibet. The whole time I was reading this book I wanted to know if they would get back together or not.
I grew fond of Edward’s character and I wanted to make sure that everything turned out right for him. He got a new insight to life and relationships. Edward really transforms himself, inside and out, and in the end he gets the HEA he deserves.
Dan and his ‘logic’ were most hysterical. Most of which was the blunt, honest truth. Dan doesn’t sugarcoat anything, nor does his mouth have a filter, he just tells it like he sees it. Dan’s analogies were sometimes spot on, sometimes not, but always down right hilarious.
Funny stuff that comes out of Dan’s mouth:
“You’re dressed like a scarecrow. And what do scarecrows do?”
---
“Cool jacket, Dan. How will they ever resist me?” [Edward] says, strutting up and down in front of the mirror.
Dan shakes his head. “Edward, it’s a nice jacket. Not a magic jacket.”
And here’s a word of advice from Edward’s personal trainer:
“If it jiggles, it’s fat.”
The funny part about this line is that it took place in a restaurant during the trainer’s assessment of Edward. No advanced equipment needed; just a jiggle test. These quotes still give me a good chuckle.
What I Didn’t Like: The beginning was a bit slow for me. But once Edward got over his woe is me pity party and started doing something about his situation, I was invested in finding out how his life was going to turn out.
There were a few times when I had to pause and think for a moment about what a particular word or phrase meant. Some I even had to Google. For instance: pint of snakebite (a drink of equal parts beer and cider), kerb (curb), boot of a car (the trunk), jumper (pull-over sweater), snog (kiss and cuddle) and aerial (antenna) – just to name a few. Nothing I couldn’t figure out but it did pause my reading from time to time.
Overall Impression: Fans of Bridget Jones’s Diary and Chick-Lit will love the male insight from Edward’s POV and the humor that comes along with it. They need to make of movie from this book! The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook would be a great Valentine’s Day read.
Review originally posted on The Book Vixen.
November 23, 2010
Edward Middleton comes home to find his girlfriend, Jane has left him. Jane and Edward have been a couple for ten years. As if things couldn’t be worse, Jane not only left Edward but left the country. Jane went to Tibet. Though she did leave Edward a note. She told him that “You’ve let yourself go, So I’m letting you go. She left it on his scale and told him to use it for more than just stacking newspapers.
Edward has three months before Jane returns. Edward’s good friend, Dan tells Edward that he needs to get his act together. This is funny as Dan is a womanizer. Edward agrees. When Edward sees an ad for a “New You” advertising that Sam Smith can help get you in shape and transform into a new you. Edward calls. To his surprise Sam is really Samantha. Can Sam help Edward win Jane back?
Mr. Dunn brings the fun…in funny. This book had me laughing and wanting to share this book with my friends. In fact my boss made a comment about the title of this book and right away I had to tell her about a hilarious moment I had just read involving Edward. The first humorous moment was when Edward got up the next morning after working out for the first time. The comments he made had me smiling for a long time. The other moment I liked was when Sam was commanding Edward to run up and down stairs. At the end of their workout, with Edward about on his death bed, Sam tells him good job. Edward says good job why. Sam replies “Well you didn’t puke, fall down the stairs or puke and fall down the stairs at the same time”. I laughed and laughed. I could just imagine what Edward was thinking at that moment in time…he was thinking “If I could I would reach up and slap you silly”. There are many more comical scenes like these to be found in The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook. Mr. Dunn won me over with this book.
Edward has three months before Jane returns. Edward’s good friend, Dan tells Edward that he needs to get his act together. This is funny as Dan is a womanizer. Edward agrees. When Edward sees an ad for a “New You” advertising that Sam Smith can help get you in shape and transform into a new you. Edward calls. To his surprise Sam is really Samantha. Can Sam help Edward win Jane back?
Mr. Dunn brings the fun…in funny. This book had me laughing and wanting to share this book with my friends. In fact my boss made a comment about the title of this book and right away I had to tell her about a hilarious moment I had just read involving Edward. The first humorous moment was when Edward got up the next morning after working out for the first time. The comments he made had me smiling for a long time. The other moment I liked was when Sam was commanding Edward to run up and down stairs. At the end of their workout, with Edward about on his death bed, Sam tells him good job. Edward says good job why. Sam replies “Well you didn’t puke, fall down the stairs or puke and fall down the stairs at the same time”. I laughed and laughed. I could just imagine what Edward was thinking at that moment in time…he was thinking “If I could I would reach up and slap you silly”. There are many more comical scenes like these to be found in The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook. Mr. Dunn won me over with this book.
June 2, 2013
Most chick-lit type of books are written by women. So it was a wonderful surprise to see that The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook was written by a man with a man's point of view.
Edward Middleton has had the same job since college, and is happy with his relationship with Jane. They met in college and have lived together for ten years. So it's a shock that HE is shocked when Jane leaves him a Dear John letter, leaving him, but stating it really is HIM and not her.
Edward doesn't understand why she would leave him. Sure he may have let himself go a bit, and even though Jane thinks he has no goals, he enjoys his job. He loves her, she loves him - end of story. But when Jane leaves, Eddie gets a wake up call.
His best friend Dan, a pompous TV celebrity, convinces Eddie that he can get Jane back if he makes some changes. He also tries to tell Eddie that ten years as cohabitants, Jane surely wanted more. Is Eddie that dense? Even though Dan is pompous and full of himself, and at times annoying, he is a good friend to Eddie.
Eddie begins a journey of re-discovering himself and a complete makeover. But is he really seeing the point? Did Jane really mean she wanted him to look better? Will she take him back or will Eddie finally realize what Jane and He had all along?
The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook is a refreshing chick-lit page-turner. Witty, wildly entertaining and a fresh perspective coming from the man's point of view, this one is a sure-fire hit!
Edward Middleton has had the same job since college, and is happy with his relationship with Jane. They met in college and have lived together for ten years. So it's a shock that HE is shocked when Jane leaves him a Dear John letter, leaving him, but stating it really is HIM and not her.
Edward doesn't understand why she would leave him. Sure he may have let himself go a bit, and even though Jane thinks he has no goals, he enjoys his job. He loves her, she loves him - end of story. But when Jane leaves, Eddie gets a wake up call.
His best friend Dan, a pompous TV celebrity, convinces Eddie that he can get Jane back if he makes some changes. He also tries to tell Eddie that ten years as cohabitants, Jane surely wanted more. Is Eddie that dense? Even though Dan is pompous and full of himself, and at times annoying, he is a good friend to Eddie.
Eddie begins a journey of re-discovering himself and a complete makeover. But is he really seeing the point? Did Jane really mean she wanted him to look better? Will she take him back or will Eddie finally realize what Jane and He had all along?
The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook is a refreshing chick-lit page-turner. Witty, wildly entertaining and a fresh perspective coming from the man's point of view, this one is a sure-fire hit!
March 31, 2011
It’s been a long time since I’d read any chick lit. In fact, I think several of my friends had recently vowed to swear off it–only I kept a copy of Bergdorf Blondes as my guilty pleasure. Anyway, when I received a copy of The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook in the mail, I decided to break my vow (So soon?) and check it out. Except this was different. This was boy chick lit, if there is such a thing. At least it was written by a boy.
The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook follows the story of Edward Middleton, a dowdy 30-year-old who has just been left by his girlfriend of ten years, Jane. “It’s not me–it’s you,” reads the break-up note as Jane explains to her now-ex that he has effectively ‘let himself go.’ The rest of the book has Edward narrating his journey to win Jane back. It’s a sweet book and, seriously, Edward is one of the most easy characters to root for. It has a touch of the Biggest Loser sensibility. After all, it’s always fun to watch a likable guy transform himself. Plus, it’s set in Brighton and filled with fun British speak. It had me reading in an accent the whole time.
If you’d like to give chick lit another go, I think you’ll enjoy the change in the cast of characters that the author, Matt Dunn, has to offer. And hey, it’s fun to watch a guy try to figure out what the heck women are thinking, right?
The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook follows the story of Edward Middleton, a dowdy 30-year-old who has just been left by his girlfriend of ten years, Jane. “It’s not me–it’s you,” reads the break-up note as Jane explains to her now-ex that he has effectively ‘let himself go.’ The rest of the book has Edward narrating his journey to win Jane back. It’s a sweet book and, seriously, Edward is one of the most easy characters to root for. It has a touch of the Biggest Loser sensibility. After all, it’s always fun to watch a likable guy transform himself. Plus, it’s set in Brighton and filled with fun British speak. It had me reading in an accent the whole time.
If you’d like to give chick lit another go, I think you’ll enjoy the change in the cast of characters that the author, Matt Dunn, has to offer. And hey, it’s fun to watch a guy try to figure out what the heck women are thinking, right?
July 6, 2021
Unpopular opinion - but I am not the intended audience! This is “Lad Lit’, the equivalent of “chick lit” but written by a male, with a male lead character.
Edward’s girlfriend (of 10 years) Jane has just walked out on him, gone to Tibet for 3 months. Jane leaves Edward a note telling him, “it’s you, not me.” Edward is devastated and wants to win Jane back. He seeks advice from narcissistic friend, TV’s Dan Davis and Wendy, his local barmaid.
The story follows Edward’s efforts to lose weight, increase his fitness, change his style and increase his coolness and thus his attractiveness to women, or more particularly Jane. Where he ends up is predictable and so are most of the things he goes through, some of the “life lessons” dropped into the story are interesting enough but there is nothing new here.
I found the superficially of Edward’s change a little disappointing. He basically remains the same person, yes he increases his self-esteem, but it is primarily through changing his physical appearance.
Edward’s girlfriend (of 10 years) Jane has just walked out on him, gone to Tibet for 3 months. Jane leaves Edward a note telling him, “it’s you, not me.” Edward is devastated and wants to win Jane back. He seeks advice from narcissistic friend, TV’s Dan Davis and Wendy, his local barmaid.
The story follows Edward’s efforts to lose weight, increase his fitness, change his style and increase his coolness and thus his attractiveness to women, or more particularly Jane. Where he ends up is predictable and so are most of the things he goes through, some of the “life lessons” dropped into the story are interesting enough but there is nothing new here.
I found the superficially of Edward’s change a little disappointing. He basically remains the same person, yes he increases his self-esteem, but it is primarily through changing his physical appearance.
August 10, 2012
These books are good fun. I read this and the sequel one after the other and enjoyed them both (I found them whilst browsing the 'just returned' shelf in my local library). They are contemporary romantic comedies with fun characters and really great dialogue. Ed and Sam are lovely characters. The secondary characters are even funnier.
You can call them 'Lad Lit' if you like - although I don't see why people are surprised that men can write romance. We all fall in love. And why do people always ask male authors 'what's it like to write a woman character - no one asks female writers if they struggle to write from a male perspective. (Okay, will stop ranting now and go eat a biscuit or something to calm down).
You can call them 'Lad Lit' if you like - although I don't see why people are surprised that men can write romance. We all fall in love. And why do people always ask male authors 'what's it like to write a woman character - no one asks female writers if they struggle to write from a male perspective. (Okay, will stop ranting now and go eat a biscuit or something to calm down).
January 11, 2011
Charming boy version of chick-lit. You'll root for Edward throughout, and probably spend a good portion of your time laughing aloud. There are parts which wrap up a little conveniently, as well as parts that are just as messy in real life, and I'd highly recommend this book as a look into the psyche of certain kinds of modern men. Quite lovely.
In fact, my only question is: what happened to Billy exactly?
I received this book gratis as part of GoodReads' First Reads program.
In fact, my only question is: what happened to Billy exactly?
I received this book gratis as part of GoodReads' First Reads program.
December 27, 2020
I read this book a few years ago and LOVED it. Re-reading it now, I still think it is excellent!
This is laugh out loud funny, but very British so I am not sure the references or sense of humour could be appreciated by a reader who is not familiar with the British culture.
This is basically chick-lit from a man’s perspective, told by a man.
I also think it is like a self-help book and picked it up again at this time of year precisely for this reason.
This is laugh out loud funny, but very British so I am not sure the references or sense of humour could be appreciated by a reader who is not familiar with the British culture.
This is basically chick-lit from a man’s perspective, told by a man.
I also think it is like a self-help book and picked it up again at this time of year precisely for this reason.
August 29, 2017
A quick, fun read, but not hugely memorable. I was hoping it would be funnier, but as it was, the humor remained relatively predictable and flat. Still, a good book to read when you just want to unwind, and are not looking for something terribly stimulating, but still entertaining.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
March 31, 2022
Read the first 5 chapters…skipped to the middle and read three pages…skipped to the end and CAN still tell you what happened because basically nothing happens. Interesting concept (rom-com from male pov). The characters lacked depth and just wasn’t interesting.
June 1, 2013
Hilarious. Literally laugh out loud funny!
February 5, 2015
cute, quick read....first "chick lit" by a man...i enjoyed it!
January 4, 2015
It was really funny book! Many times I laughed out loud and giggled. Matt Dunn made all the characters so interesting I wanted to know more about them.
November 11, 2020
DNF 23%
Read
October 10, 2023I couldn’t care less about this book so I just gave up.
January 20, 2017
Ha ha ha ha ha!
Nyata dan mengalir. Dua kata itulah yang pantas menggambarkan buku ini. Dan ketika saya bilang 'nyata', itu berlaku untuk semua aspek. Dialog, plot, karakter dan lainnya.
Terutama dialog, yang sangat sangat tongkrongan banget. Ini contohnya: (saya terjemahkan)
'Jadi," kata Dan, "Dia memutuskanmu begitu saja, lalu pergi ke Tibet?"
Aku mengangguk.
"Tibet itu di mana?"
"Deket India, yang ada gunung Everest. Perbatasan China dan Nepal."
Dan tertawa kencang. "Nepal?'
"Apanya yang lucu?"
"Aku membayangkan, pengucapan kata Nepal itu seperti kita mengucapkan 'nipple', betul?"
Aku memandangnya dengan tatapan kasihan. "Hei, Dan, berapa umurmu?"
"Sekitar tiga puluh, sama sepertimu. Kenapa emang?"
"Kalau gitu dewasalah sedikit, anjing!"
Nyata dan mengalir. Dua kata itulah yang pantas menggambarkan buku ini. Dan ketika saya bilang 'nyata', itu berlaku untuk semua aspek. Dialog, plot, karakter dan lainnya.
Terutama dialog, yang sangat sangat tongkrongan banget. Ini contohnya: (saya terjemahkan)
'Jadi," kata Dan, "Dia memutuskanmu begitu saja, lalu pergi ke Tibet?"
Aku mengangguk.
"Tibet itu di mana?"
"Deket India, yang ada gunung Everest. Perbatasan China dan Nepal."
Dan tertawa kencang. "Nepal?'
"Apanya yang lucu?"
"Aku membayangkan, pengucapan kata Nepal itu seperti kita mengucapkan 'nipple', betul?"
Aku memandangnya dengan tatapan kasihan. "Hei, Dan, berapa umurmu?"
"Sekitar tiga puluh, sama sepertimu. Kenapa emang?"
"Kalau gitu dewasalah sedikit, anjing!"
May 26, 2023
I thought it would be interesting to read a 'chick lit' kind of book written by a male author with the central character being a male. It was quite good and a light read and followed the usual storyline that a chick lit book would. I really liked Edward and I'm glad he made the decision he did at the end. The character that irritated me most was Dan and tbh I'm not really sure why him and Edward were friends because they didn't seem to have a lot in common. Overall I did enjoy the book and it was good having a male protagonist for once, it just wasn't quite as funny as I hoped it might be
June 10, 2022
When I started this book I was hopeful that it would be funny. It was not. Edward just whines the entire time while changing his entire being and life for a girl who left him with hardly any furniture and a note that says she went to Tibet. We watch the transformation of Edward who goes through eye surgery, weight loss, quitting smoking, cosmetic dentistry, and change of his car all for him to not even confront Jane in the airport. And Dan was an awful character too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2023
This book was a pleasant surprise as I’ve previously struggled to read some Matt Dunn books before, but I really enjoyed this one and am quite glad that it’s part of a series. I really felt for Edward and his naivety and was so glad at the end of the book when he came to a sort of realisation about himself and all the work he had put himself through. I enjoyed the diary style chapters which made this book fast paced and easy to read and I hope the next book is written in the same style.
October 1, 2017
3-1/2 stars actually; somewhat predictable but fun. Central character quite likable; happy to see him win. After long time girlfriend clears out for extended vacation leaving a note blaming him, Edward goes through intense self examination with his self-admiring girl magnet friend. They develop plan for improvement; we experience Edwards redemption with his good humor and behavior
August 9, 2018
This was an okay read. It kept me interested enough to find out what happened at the end but I did spend a lot of time conscious of how much I had left to read. I mean, it was alright, but there was a lot of things said that were based entirely on stereotypes and a lot of the characters were quite two-dimensional.
March 1, 2024
Not my normal genre, I’m not much for romance, but there was just enough attitude to make me smile and keep me curious enough to see it through even though the ending wasn’t exactly a surprise. Didn’t live up to the giggle worthy cover, but an ok read and if you go in for romances, probably an amazing read.
September 15, 2019
First time reading this author. It was a lightweight fun read - male chick-lit!! Lol. The author provides a readable narrative that is easy to digest and takes one away from regular life. A nice piece of escapism but without the depth that would make me want to read it again.
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