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darcys01's review against another edition
3.0
Did not resonate with me like the first one. Too many outlandish events.
sam_hartwig's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this! I love "The Rosie Project" and recommend it all the time. I thought this was the perfect follow on to that book. Many people told me it wasn't as good, which is true, but I don't agree that this book wasn't necessary. I think Don is a fantastic, unique character and I enjoyed reading something about him again.
I can't wait to see the movie of "The Rosie Project", and to see who they cast as Don Tillman.
I can't wait to see the movie of "The Rosie Project", and to see who they cast as Don Tillman.
kbusickk18's review against another edition
4.0
It was a good book. I listened to the audio and struggled at times because I couldn’t tell if the narrator was speaking or it was an internal dialogue- which was frustrating at times. Out of the 3 this was my least favorite. I was frustrated because it seemed that all problems in this book could have been 100% eliminated if he would just talk to Rosie! I understand the premise of this book is that he doesn’t understand social things like that- but it was too much for me. I enjoyed the series overall though !
heathersiddoway's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
Not as cute as the first bc Rosie was kind of the worst throughout the entire thing
Not as cute as the first bc Rosie was kind of the worst throughout the entire thing
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This didn't pick up RIGHT after the first book ended, but some months later. I don't think it's a spoiler (it's in the blurb) but this one is dealing mostly with Rosie's pregnancy, and how they are both dealing with it. The other characters have their issues too. Still some humor, but more seriousness, larger consequences. I get frustrated with characters misunderstanding, and there is that here.
Per peeks at several other reviews, many dislike Rosie. It is a tough situation, and marriage today does seem like a "temporary" thing so much of the time. It's hard? Not working? Just walk away. I know there is life/happiness after divorce too, I guess it's hard to know when it's worth it to fight, to stay true to vows and promises. Rosie and Don aren't the only ones struggling.
Went with the audio - Don is Australian, and there is a slight accent, but it's not super strong. Much of the action takes place in the US in this installment (as far as other character's voices).
Like the first - proFanity, slight mentions of sex/nothing explicit.
I am going on to book 3 ...
Per peeks at several other reviews, many dislike Rosie. It is a tough situation, and marriage today does seem like a "temporary" thing so much of the time. It's hard? Not working? Just walk away. I know there is life/happiness after divorce too, I guess it's hard to know when it's worth it to fight, to stay true to vows and promises. Rosie and Don aren't the only ones struggling.
Went with the audio - Don is Australian, and there is a slight accent, but it's not super strong. Much of the action takes place in the US in this installment (as far as other character's voices).
Like the first - proFanity, slight mentions of sex/nothing explicit.
I am going on to book 3 ...
lucyi's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Don Tillman caused quite a stir when he burst upon the book world last year. A little controversy, but those of us who fell, fell hard. If you're reading this thinking "Don who?", then I implore you to try 'The Rosie Project' first.
This next book from Simsion continues the adventures of Don, the socially inept, engagingly literal, eternally diverting genetics professor. Last time around, Don's project was to find himself a wife. He found Rosie. Now they're married (a daily struggle in itself for Don), and Rosie has some news to share...
This isn't a spoiler, it's been widely reported that Rosie and Don are expecting a baby. As usual, it's Don's reactions, thoughts and feelings that make what should be a fairly straightforward plot quite such an entertaining and convoluted comedy of errors.
And it's Don's comedy that makes the book (like its predecessor) shine. For Don, the fact that "pregnancy was not scheduled" is his overriding feeling about the news. Soon after, "a spreadsheet is the obvious tool... in preparing for the existence of a new human being and providing for its needs over many years." Yep, same old wonderful Dr Tillman. This is the reason I continued reading, I just love the insight into Don's unconventional mind.
I think this time around, Simsion wants to make it clearer that Don isn't actually autistic though, as hinted in the first book. Don talks outright about having tests in the past that came up negative, that he doesn't display all the standard symptoms of the condition.
"I accepted that I was wired differently from most people, or more precisely, that my wiring was towards one end of a spectrum of different human configurations."
So we're left with a little confusion as to why he is the way he is. Several characters in the book are concerned at his reactions to the pregnancy and his wife - and even Don worries if he is some form of psycho/sociopath. I would have liked this to be explored more, but this would probably have taken the book to a darker place than the author intended.
Instead of course we have some outrageous set pieces. As soon as Don gets it into his head to observe children in order to prepare for fatherhood, you can foresee disaster. Don't worry, I won't say any more. But it sets off a chain reaction of episodes that lead to some hilarious scenes involving various authorities, and many lies. His attempts to find the perfect crib and "world's safest pram" are pant-wettingly funny in their conclusion.
I didn't really enjoy seeing Don's philandering friend Gene back again. Don and Rosie now live in New York, and new characters taking the role of mentor/buddy are brought in. It felt a little messy to me that Gene is back, and also crowded the story unnecessarily. The new friends of the Tillmans are engaging and have a good storyline of their own. Don finds friends, they interact in some typical 'male' ways and have their own story arcs (again though, more than the book needed).
The weak line of the book though, for me, is Rosie herself. After the initial scene of sharing her news with Don, Rosie quickly cooled for me and never actually regained my sympathy. Her treatment of Don and the reasons for it, I didn't understand at all. She's not warm or quirky this time, and was disappointingly background in Don's escapades. It's been so long since I read the first book that I can't really remember how I felt last time around, but I don't think I felt this way about her. She needs to be a strong and warm woman, the anchor to Don who steadies him. But she's hardly there, hardly seems to talk. She's cold, aloof and after her announcement almost absent from true marriage. I didn't connect to her at all or enjoy her scenes. A shame.
So for Don to once again charm and engage was even more pivotal. And fortunately Simsion's creation does both. You ache for HIM to have his life put back on track. You want to see him make fatherhood a success. You want the fairytale for him.
The ending isn't the high point I was hoping for, but the book overall is a joy of Tillman proportions, Rosie's effect on me, notwithstanding. I still love Don (and if Rosie doesn't want him, I'll have him, Standard Meal Plan and all!), he's a pleasure to spend time with, and a literary creation I look forward to seeing in flesh on the big screen.
Enjoy. I'm sure you will.
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
This next book from Simsion continues the adventures of Don, the socially inept, engagingly literal, eternally diverting genetics professor. Last time around, Don's project was to find himself a wife. He found Rosie. Now they're married (a daily struggle in itself for Don), and Rosie has some news to share...
This isn't a spoiler, it's been widely reported that Rosie and Don are expecting a baby. As usual, it's Don's reactions, thoughts and feelings that make what should be a fairly straightforward plot quite such an entertaining and convoluted comedy of errors.
And it's Don's comedy that makes the book (like its predecessor) shine. For Don, the fact that "pregnancy was not scheduled" is his overriding feeling about the news. Soon after, "a spreadsheet is the obvious tool... in preparing for the existence of a new human being and providing for its needs over many years." Yep, same old wonderful Dr Tillman. This is the reason I continued reading, I just love the insight into Don's unconventional mind.
I think this time around, Simsion wants to make it clearer that Don isn't actually autistic though, as hinted in the first book. Don talks outright about having tests in the past that came up negative, that he doesn't display all the standard symptoms of the condition.
"I accepted that I was wired differently from most people, or more precisely, that my wiring was towards one end of a spectrum of different human configurations."
So we're left with a little confusion as to why he is the way he is. Several characters in the book are concerned at his reactions to the pregnancy and his wife - and even Don worries if he is some form of psycho/sociopath. I would have liked this to be explored more, but this would probably have taken the book to a darker place than the author intended.
Instead of course we have some outrageous set pieces. As soon as Don gets it into his head to observe children in order to prepare for fatherhood, you can foresee disaster. Don't worry, I won't say any more. But it sets off a chain reaction of episodes that lead to some hilarious scenes involving various authorities, and many lies. His attempts to find the perfect crib and "world's safest pram" are pant-wettingly funny in their conclusion.
I didn't really enjoy seeing Don's philandering friend Gene back again. Don and Rosie now live in New York, and new characters taking the role of mentor/buddy are brought in. It felt a little messy to me that Gene is back, and also crowded the story unnecessarily. The new friends of the Tillmans are engaging and have a good storyline of their own. Don finds friends, they interact in some typical 'male' ways and have their own story arcs (again though, more than the book needed).
The weak line of the book though, for me, is Rosie herself. After the initial scene of sharing her news with Don, Rosie quickly cooled for me and never actually regained my sympathy. Her treatment of Don and the reasons for it, I didn't understand at all. She's not warm or quirky this time, and was disappointingly background in Don's escapades. It's been so long since I read the first book that I can't really remember how I felt last time around, but I don't think I felt this way about her. She needs to be a strong and warm woman, the anchor to Don who steadies him. But she's hardly there, hardly seems to talk. She's cold, aloof and after her announcement almost absent from true marriage. I didn't connect to her at all or enjoy her scenes. A shame.
So for Don to once again charm and engage was even more pivotal. And fortunately Simsion's creation does both. You ache for HIM to have his life put back on track. You want to see him make fatherhood a success. You want the fairytale for him.
The ending isn't the high point I was hoping for, but the book overall is a joy of Tillman proportions, Rosie's effect on me, notwithstanding. I still love Don (and if Rosie doesn't want him, I'll have him, Standard Meal Plan and all!), he's a pleasure to spend time with, and a literary creation I look forward to seeing in flesh on the big screen.
Enjoy. I'm sure you will.
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
ibisette's review against another edition
4.0
kind of preddered the first book. This one was fine, but nothing more than that
dewey_scrapper's review against another edition
2.0
I'm sad to say that I didn't enjoy this one as much as The Rosie Project.