After reading a slew of serious books, I needed a light, fun read that had some depth to the story. I found exactly that when I picked up The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. The Rosie Project reminded me of one my favorite sitcoms, The Big Bang Theory, and I think it would be enjoyed by fans of the tv show as well as others looking for a quick, cute read. Check out the cute book trailer below!



Description: Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.
   Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.

Review: Don Tillman is our perfectly imperfect narrator and protagonist. A scientist who only understands logic, he unknowingly gives people the impression that he is arrogant or robotic in his manners. He enjoys and finds peace in organizing his things around his apartment knowing exactly what to eat and wear every day. He cannot understand social cues, barely feels emotion and can't stand to be touched.  Don's best friends are Gene and Claudia, psychologists. Gene brought Don as a postdoc to the prestigious university where he is now an associate professor. Gene is a cad, a philanderer who chooses women based on nationality--he aims to sleep with a woman from every country. Claudia is tolerant until she's not.
  As Don observes Gene's behavior, he realizes that the next logical step in life is to settle down and get married. Don doesn't understand the allure of Gene's lifestyle and open marriage and he fails to understand the emotions that Claudia keeps harping about in relationships. Rather than waste his time and dating a bunch of women, Don logically starts a project called the Wife Project. Essentially each of his dating prospects must fill out an exhaustive and extensive survey that assess her interests, behavior patterns (is she messy? how much does she sleep? how much does she drinks?), hobbies, etc. Only after analyzing how the response match to Don's own desires, he will contact the woman for a date if he deems her suitable.
  Things get even more interesting and amusing when Gene sends Rosie, a graduate student in his department, to Don as a joke, a ringer for the Wife Project. Rosie is a vivid character who has a chip on her shoulder mainly since she can not identify her biological father. Don already dismisses Rosie as a Wife Project candidate because she is woefully unsuitable, but agrees to use science to help her find her father. The rom-com plot is nicely centered on pursuing the Father Project. Rosie and Don collide as their different personalities are polar opposites. Don learns to let loose and live a little while hanging out with Rosie. Likewise Rosie finds structure and stays on task with the help of Don. Soon hilarity in miscommunication, dismay of the Wife Project, and hormones ensue, especially when Don's and Rosie's relationship becomes complicated.  
  The story doesn't try too hard to be funny or sweet, but it feels natural with its deadpan humor and a nudge-nudge, wink-wink humor. I couldn't help but laugh at, and with, Don as he tries to navigate our hopelessly emotional, non-literal world, learning as he goes. It was also nice to read a romance story that is told from a male perspective. If you're looking for an uplifting story that will have you laughing out loud pick up The Rosie Project. Soon you will be flying through the pages as Don finds and falls in love. Since finishing the book, I found out that the author is writing a companion novel and I can't wait to read it.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, sexual situations, and crude humor. Recommended for older teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion (coming soon in September 2014)