Dumped and devastated just before her 31st birthday, Tamara Duricka Johnson decided to reinvent her dating life. Worried about her tendency to invest too much, too soon in each new relationship, she came up with a plan designed to put the fun back in dating: a month of first dates, each one featuring a different guy, a different activity, a price limit of $31--and a post on her blog the next day.
Johnson's breezy, candid writing style breathes life into what might otherwise be a sad tale of a woman disillusioned with dating. As she goes on her 30 first dates (many of them blind--and most of them quite enjoyable), she takes a clear look at her past dating mishaps, the cultural pressure to find the perfect mate and the challenges of the big-city dating scene. Readers will enjoy the accounts of each date, complete with awkward moments, honest self-reflection and even a few crushes.
As the end of her project approaches, Johnson creates a blog poll so her readers can help choose her date for Valentine's Day--the 31st date. While the suspense is fun and the promise of a happy ending (or at least a new relationship) is comforting, Johnson has realized something important: she doesn't need a man to feel complete. Readers in all stages of the dating process will find something to cheer for in this witty, wise, heartfelt tale of dating, gaining confidence and finding love. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams