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Book Reviews of The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1)

The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1)
The Rosie Project - Rosie, Bk 1
Author: Graeme Simsion
ISBN-13: 9781405915335
ISBN-10: 1405915331
Publication Date: 2/1/2014
Pages: 329
Rating:
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 4

3.5 stars, based on 4 ratings
Publisher: Penguin Books
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

25 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
This book made me laugh tremendously! Between Don's weird quirks and Rosie's laid back attitude, there is so much comedy. I was picturing this as a movie the whole time I was reading it. It is a quick and hilarious read for those who need a laugh and a heartfelt story.
reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on
Helpful Score: 4
This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I can't believe it's the author's first novel and was written quickly. As a writer myself, I envy him (in a good way). I'm happily married to an engineer and I could see many qualities of my husband in the main character. I know classic romantics may not appreciate it, but I love men who use their problem solving skills to win the heart of the women they love! Give me that any day, instead of roses. Well, flowers are nice, too!
DaynaAlyson avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 31 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This was a very enjoyable, but highly predictable, read. The main character and narrator, Don, has Aspergers Syndrome, which made the voice of the narrator and story-telling unique, and I was engaged in the story-line from the beginning. I liked quirky Don, and I, like his only friends, Claudia and Gene, wanted to see him find a woman that was right for him. This is the main plot point: whether or not Don will find a woman that is a good fit for him, since his Aspergers makes him awkward in social situations and very regimented in his daily life. I knew from the beginning, as I'm sure pretty much anyone can figure out from the title, who the object of Don's affection would end up being, and the entire plot is pretty predictable, including who is Rosie's biological father. The predictability did not detract from my enjoyment of the book though, and I would definitely recommend it for someone looking for a cute love story with an unconventional main character.
reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 215 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Hysterical, true to life love story! Just makes you feel good and that yes, there is someone for everyone. Don is a socially 'weird' professors of genetics and Rosie is sent to him by a colleague to be part of his 'wife project.' Rosie is all wrong for Don, she is a smoker! But, as with life, the ones who are wrong for us are actually quite right. A lovely mystery is involved too! I can't wait for the sequel!
reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 66 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
10 Stars for this one! Don Tillman (main character) will give you more than a few lol moments. I just loved this book. The movie is coming out soon I believe. I can't imagine anyone NOT liking this book.
Minehava avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 829 more book reviews
I read about 50 percent of the book and asked myself if I should bear it to the end. No, I couldn't. I skipped few pages, hoping it would get better. I skipped few more, and then few more... to the last few pages and was surprise, surprise NOT confused with what was going on. I read enough snippets to know it was the same plot as before. No twist, no surprise, no redeeming ending to the unlikable characters, the mediocre writing, and to the story that has no story.

This book was supposed to be crazy comedy, an easy, relax read romance, about a man looking for the perfect wife. It starts out that way, but ends up with him and a woman named Rosie looking for her biological father. Don, rules her out as a potential wife but agrees to help her. Don and Rosie are both flat/boring characters. Everything they say is textbook stuff "put me to sleep". Hearing about Don`s ridiculous schedule is suppose to be funny, but was just overkill for me. His best friend the whoremonger professor? Also an exaggeration. No-one lives like this. Not even Proffesors. I know Im married to one. Faculty people are crazy bunch, I agree. I met my share of crazy during my interaction with University staff, including the special brand of crazy in the Anthropology department, that actually uses a mediator during the faculty meetings. But these characters are a pure fantasy land.

Rosie and Don collecting DNA from all the candidates was not interesting. Though I understand that this was suppose to be the pretense for which they "find" each other but it just didn't feel natural to me. It is a questionable from moral point of view, and highly illegal without consent. And quite expensive to do as well. Neither point is an issue ever touched upon, in the story. Which is a problem for me.

Conclusion: I actually think this happy-end romance and Dons "shy-eccentricity =>read hidden Narcissism" would have been better played out in a movie. Which is where this book might be going. The story target audience is the dysfunctional millennials and the younger generations, that find it difficult to date/marry because of their unrealistic high expectations of the "other" without consideration of what is their own "marketability" thinking them selves a perfect examples of humanity. With no defects or some so minor, hardly worth seeing. Narcissism and self worship is the new religion that prevents ANY relationships, including friendship. Don is a Narcissist that overcomes his condition. Which, as will any psychiatrist will tell you, is an impossibility, despite what this make-believe Hollywood ending makes you think. But you can always dream in this book, and the like...
reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 1154 more book reviews
This was a true delight that made me both laugh out loud and cry. If you're looking for an unconventional love story, this is the book for you!
reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
So entertaining and heartwarming - a great read!
LeahG avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 320 more book reviews
It's rare that I give a book five stars, but I absolutely loved this book. I love the way the author describes the
protagonist, Don Tillman. It cracked me up over and over. The dry humor just hits your funny bone right in the perfect place and what a heart-warming love story. Not at all mooshy but perfectly done! Can't wait for this author to write another book.
ClareS avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 87 more book reviews
Clever and funny
crytal avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 155 more book reviews
"The Rosie Project" is probably my new favorite love story. Ironically, there is very little "love" in it. At least not in the traditional sense. It was certainly no Julie Garwood or Catherine Coulter. And yet, there was so much non-traditional love, that it melted my heart.

I found that I have many of the same qualities as the main character, Don. In fact, there were lines at the end that nearly had me in tears because it was so true to my life, and I completely understood where Don was coming from when he thought them. "I was not wired to feel love. And faking it was not acceptable. Not to me." And then, "I knew so much shit and I still couldn't fix myself."

Don is a Professor, who (most likely) has Asperger's. Though it is only hinted at through the story-telling, and subtly brought up by a supporting character, we never really know. For logical reasons, Don decides that he needs a wife, and starts working on The Wife Project. (Which, by the way, I think is bloody brilliant!) The Wife Project consists of a 30-something page questionnaire, internet dating sites, speed dating and a blind date. Throughout the book, he slowly realizes that these methods are not working and gives up on the project. It's not really giving anything away to say that Don falls for the 1 person he found wholly unsuitable, it was quite predictable just from reading the jacket. But this book wasn't really about the ending, it was how Don and Rosie get there. And that is how you get suckered in to loving the characters and their story.
mom2nine avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 343 more book reviews
I'm in the minority on this one. I usually like geeky, social misfit types so was surprised that Don fell flat for me. This book is slated to be a movie, hopefully an actor will be able to make the part believable so the story would be fun.
reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 9 more book reviews
Really enjoyed this book. Wish I could get the sequel.
virgosun avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 888 more book reviews
3.5 stars. Really sweet story and at times hilarious. I love that Don got his HEA!
reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 20 more book reviews
It's basically Sheldon (From the Big Bang Theory) looks for a wife. A lot of fun!!
reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Great book--refreshing and fun to read.
tennisfan5 avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 42 more book reviews
This book was good, but I just couldn't get past some of the main character Don's quirks and my hatred of gene. The height and BMI assessment by Don was funny and amusing at first, but it got really old as he continued to do it every time he met someone new throughout the book. Also, the "best friend" Gene, I ABSOLUTELY hated the character. He was just a womanizing, jerk. I think the fact that he slept around so much on his wife & that it was an open joke with everyone really took away from the actual storyline. In the end I really like how Rosie & Don end up, & I just have to say that the bit about the father project ending I did not see coming.
junie avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 630 more book reviews
What a delightful book! Very different from my usual books, it was laugh out loud funny. I just love Don, his quirky ways and rigid life, as he looks for the perfect partner by creating a 16 page questionnaire called The Wife Project. Them he meets Rosie and his life changes.

A very entertaining, feel good book.
sslowe avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 80 more book reviews
I adored this book. An excursion into a person on the autistic spectrum. Very insightful
reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 279 more book reviews
Great book! Funny, endearing, educational, just a fun read. Dr Don Tillman has Asperger Syndrome so approaches life in exacts: everything scheduled and organized. Shows very little humor, no empathy, can't fall in love, etc. He meets Rosie, who is PhD candidate, they embark on finding her bio father. Don labels The Father Project. Lots of adventures and laughs, most are believable.

Now I'm on to next book, The Rosie Effect. Hope it's just as much fun!
keli avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 31 more book reviews
Very funy and a light read
loregess avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 175 more book reviews
Socially inept Don is a scientist. In his world, schedules and logic rule. So when logic, according to him, dictates that it is time for him to seek a wife, he develops a huge questionnaire in hopes of finding a suitable match. If youre a fan of the Big Bang Theory, think of this as Sheldon seeking love. Dons naivete makes him so endearing. And his recounting of past dating disasters,like the Apricot Ice Cream Disaster, are absolutely hysterical. Though he tries to make sense of it all, Don learns a hard lesson: love aint logical! The Rosie Project is definitely going on my Favorite Books shelf.
23dollars avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 432 more book reviews
I read THE ROSIE PROJECT for the June 2014 pick in my online book club, The Reading Cove.

It wasn't my cuppa book. Contrary to most others, I found Don more annoying than quirky and can't see how any woman could be attracted to that.

Rosie wasn't well developed enough to explain why she would even fall in love with someone like Don, who's quirkiness became increasingly asinine as the story went on.

I skimmed for the sake of book club discussion, but I could've spent my time doing something else.

I give it C- for being mildly amusing at times but largely skimmable. I could only recommend it to people who like very dry comedy.
njmom3 avatar reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on + 1389 more book reviews
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion is about Don Tillman, who decides he needs a wife and sets about solving the wife problem in his own logical and analytical way. Along comes Rosie. Rosie does not meet many of the criteria Don identifies for his ideal mate, but there's something about Rosie...A sweet, funny romance with endearing characters and a message that "different" does not mean "less;" it just means "different."

Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2015/03/the-rosie-project.html
reviewed The Rosie Project (Rosie, Bk 1) on
Sweet, funny, lovable story. I was smiling the entire time I read this book.