Review of 28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir

[Amanda Laffan]

[Following is a volunteer review of "28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir" by Poppy Mortimer.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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‘28 Disastrous Dates’ by Poppy Mortimer is a wonderfully funny and engaging book. Poppy skilfully guides us through her 28 dates, detailing the mishaps and disasters she experiences, and concluding with the lessons she has learnt from each date. Along the way, Poppy shares with the reader her reflections regarding gender norms, societal expectations, and her own “programming”.

One of the main strengths of this book is, in my opinion, how very well it is written. Each chapter describes a particular date and follows the same format, making it easy to follow. The writing style is simple and conversational, with the overall tone being light and funny. The content being presented is, itself, humorous and (sadly) often easy to relate to. I also appreciated Poppy including warnings before describing situations which some readers may find particularly difficult to read.

The only slight issue I found with this book was that Poppy did come across as a little shallow or unkind on a few occasions. I also found myself wondering how the book would have read and been received if it had been written by a male author about dates with women. In addition, the focus on physical appearances and passing judgement on potential partners didn’t always feel completely comfortable for me.

I allocate '28 Disastrous Dates’ by Poppy Mortimer 5 out of 5 stars as it is very well written, engaging, and incredibly funny. I feel that the slight issues I have mentioned are more a reflection of my own sensitivities, rather than being flaws of the book itself. I can imagine this book giving hope, or least offering some solidarity, to other women who are struggling to find the right man!

The audience for whom I would primarily recommend this book includes single women or those who themselves have been on lots of dates on the path to find true love. I would have no hesitation in recommending the book to women who have had a smoother dating journey, but they may not find it resonates in quite the same way.

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28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir
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