The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Penguin, 2014

Somethings in life are unexpected….

Don Tillman likes routine and he has pretty much accepted the fact that he’s not going to be in a relationship. That is until he stumbles on the idea for the Wife Project. Using a series of questions, he is sure that he will be able to find himself the ideal woman. Then we meet Rosie. She is not who he had in mind at all. She smokes, is never on time and is not at all acceptable to the Wife Project criteria but little by little, Rosie and Don become friends and he becomes aware of a life he could have – a life that he previously thought was for everyone else.

I loved Don. He’s a very endearing character. Told in the first person narrative, his voice took me a few pages to get used to as he is very matter of fact but there is something so lovely and warm about him that I wanted to give me a big hug. I liked he and Rosie together and her character did a lot to bring Don away from his completely structured life and into something different.

The Wife Project, The Father Project and the The Rosie Project offered intrigue – enough to keep me reading and wanting to know what happened next to the point where I couldn’t put the book down. I did have a theory all the way through the book as to certain answers at the end (there was one answer that, I wish in a small way I’d been right about,) but I was pleasantly surprised and happy that everything ended the way it did.

The supporting characters were great. I sometimes wanted to shout at Gene, I felt sorry for Claudia and the sub plot with Don’s family was a valuable lesson in how misunderstanding can get in the way. I am looking forward to seeing what they do with the film version as this did start out as a screenplay.
Overall, I really recommend this book. I hope you love Don as much as I did.

(The Rosie Project, published by Penguin and is now available in paperback and e-book.)

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.