Book Review: The Rosie Project — Sheldon Cooper for Dating

I’ve just gotten into book reading last year and have been enjoying it for quite some time. Normally, I read something thriller, suspense, and psychology. Since 80% of what I’ve read falls into those genres, it was time for a switch to something more lighthearted and will actually make me smile (or even cringe) throughout the reading. 

So I went to Reddit for book recommendations, especially for fictional novels in romcom. It has been a success, but here’s the thing — I found so many things interesting and couldn’t seem to be able to pick one. That being said, AI is essentially great for this task — so ChatGPT, I choose you! 

Yeah, as you might already have seen in the title. The book I ended up choosing is the Rosie Project. It had been lingering in my TBR list for a long time, but I just wasn’t sold for it just yet until last week. But since so many people are suggesting it, I think — why not? 

That’s my intro done — a little small talk in the beginning so we get to know each other more (in reality — it’s a one-way road, but you know what I mean). Let’s get started!

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The Rosie Project is a romcom fictional novel where it’s focused on two two people — Don and Rosie. Don is a little bit special (apparently, he has Asperger but is not aware of it) and he thinks it’s about time he finds a partner and because he’s a professor on Genetics — the best way to find a girlfriend or a wife for him should be logical and based on facts and the eventual candidate should be “suitable”, so he embarks on the Wife Project and finds Rosie. 

I’ll leave this just right here and if you’re interested to learn more about the plot, you may read the short description of the book on the Goodreads website. 

First Impression

If I’m being honest, I was a little skeptical of the plot and premise around the book — it’s a romcom. Everyone knows the two focused people will end up together and live happily ever after. Why bother continuing when you know the ending already? But life lately for me has been tough and stressful, so I needed at least something to distract me from it. And as I said, since it’s not a heavy book and probably lighthearted, there’s no harm in trying — plus it’s unlikely to hurt me emotionally and mentally (physically too of course, haha). 

One thing the author deserves a huge credit is the opening. While it’s not fast-paced, it’s not slow, either. It has just enough intrigue to keep you turning pages after pages. The chapter is short and digestible. It’s not going to give you a headache, so you can finish this easily in one sitting — if that’s what your cup of tea is. 

The Rosie Project is a beach book and if you’re like me — being at war with everything and yourself. You deserve a little escape and a virtual vacation for your mind. 

What Worked Well 

Don and Rosie are the main focus of the book and there are other characters as well — Gene and Claudia. This book has enough people who we can easily relate to (even Don) but not so much where we have to memorize all the names and lose track of everything in your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th setting. So, this is one of the things that I think the Rosie Project is good at. 

Given it’s a romcom, the plot is basic and gives you a feel-good vibe. The writing style is subjective to everyone, but personally it’s alright for me. For a non native English speaker, this book is at an upper B2 level in terms of vocabulary. Although the protagonist is a Genetic professor, there are few technical terms. But obviously there will be times where you have to look up some words, but I would say it’s not going to trouble you so much. 

My experience in reading the Rosie Project was mainly positive. The book makes you immerse and feels like you are on a date with the protagonist. 

What Didn’t Work 

As I already mentioned earlier, you can probably guess the ending within the first few chapters — there are cliche and predictable moments in the book. If you’re more looking for something twisting — the Rosie Project might not be for you. A version of myself a few months ago probably finds this book boring. It’s not something for everyone. Some will like it, some will not. I suggest you read a few pages of the book and decide for yourself. 

Final Verdict 

This book has more or less 304 pages depending on the edition. If you need a warm and uplifting story with a gentle charm that will leave you smiling and root for the characters, you will love this book. 

The Rosie Project scores a 4.5/5 rating for me (hence I’m starting this review).

I finished this book within a few days and each sitting lasted about 1-2 hours in between. But if you’re invested with the story, you can easily finish it in a day or two, so it’s perfect for a weekend getaway for your mind. 

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