2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Just finished up chapter 24. I am starting to get caught up in it finally. I love the relationship between Don and Rosie. I think the writing of the dialogue between the two of them is what makes this a good book. Still not a fantastic book in my estimation though.

Still really enjoying the book. Absolutely loved the section on the faculty ball and Don practicing sexual positions - super funny! Kinda sad I'm reading so fast but can't seem to put the book down :)

Megan wrote: "Still really enjoying the book. Absolutely loved the section on the faculty ball and Don practicing sexual positions - super funny! Kinda sad I'm reading so fast but can't seem to put the book d..."

Exactly Megan!!!! I literally laughed out loud...my kids think I'm nuts when I do that.

I also found this book really funny! And I think its the humour that made it so addictive and uplifting! Because whilst there are sad moments, they are usually dealt with in a funny way

Dawn wrote: "Megan wrote: "Still really enjoying the book. Absolutely loved the section on the faculty ball and Don practicing sexual positions - super funny! Kinda sad I'm reading so fast but can't seem to ..."

Dawn, I was also laughing aloud while reading! Good thing I was reading it at home!

I agree I can't put this down. Started it a few hours ago and 60% finished. I have a funny feeling I won't be getting too much sleep tonight

I can't out this book down either. It's been a very good read so far. It was great to see Don's positive experience in NYC!

Sydney wrote: "I can't out this book down either. It's been a very good read so far. It was great to see Don's positive experience in NYC!"

I loved the part in NYC! Especially Don having the confidence to make a new friend!

I think there are loads of subtle hints through out which demonstrate the Change Don is undertaking, but because for most people they are just ordinary occurrences its well disguised in a way.

Yes I agree it was great to see him step out of his comfort zone and do things he normally wouldn't have done. I think this was a huge step for him. Especially letting someone else choose what to do and not having a completely set schedule.

So I'm still loving this book and laughing a lot like the rest of you! I'm only on chapter 19 now, but Rosie has grown on me quite a bit - especially when she saved Don at the ball. However, I'm still not sold on them as a romantic couple and I still can't tell if that's where this is headed....so I'll keep on reading!

it is so quirky I love it - the sexual position stuff is so funny - I think Rosie's character is amazing and she pushes Don so much in a good way is shows the best friendship ever - no matter what Rosie does Don always ends up enjoying himself - I feel a little like that when I met my partner 5 years ago, I was always nervous and he made me do crazy things which I was so scared of doing on my own

Jenn wrote: "So I'm still loving this book and laughing a lot like the rest of you! I'm only on chapter 19 now, but Rosie has grown on me quite a bit - especially when she saved Don at the ball. However, I'm st..."

Yeh I think Rosie saving Don at the ball was definitely a turning point for me as a reader when I started to realise Rosie was actually quite understanding and maybe a better friend/match to Don than I had first anticipated.

It almost demonstrates just how hiding behind certain barriers and defenses and sarcasm etc doesn't really make your true self known. Whereas Don's whole personality is worn on his sleeve.

I started this book yesterday and am 53% done. I'm really enjoying this book. It's funny and I'm having a hard time putting it down.

I also loved the part with Don and the skeleton! He seems to get himself in the most hilarious situations.

I am enjoying the book even more now from this section. I laugh out loud quite a bit and read my brother an excerpt from the book, and he was laughing as well.

Rosie has definitely grown on me too. I didn't dislike her before, but I felt she wasn't right for Don. She's definitely revealed more of her personality and I think seems suited to him. She gets him out of his comfort zone and gave him three of the best days of his adult life! And she seems interested in him beyond just a friendship. He also cares about her obviously or he wouldn't have gone to such extreme lengths for the father project.

Some highlights from this section for me were their time together in New York City and the part where Don is having a blast working as a bartender at the reunion party - he was having so much fun! Excited to read the rest.

It was only few hours to go when I wrote about my feelings of first 12 chapters. And now I'm already writing my feelings here. Wonder if I manage to read the whole book today :D

Anyway, I really love love love all the things that have happened in this book this far. I was pretty sad when Rosie didn't answer to Don's calls but luckily everything turned out great. I also love how Don is moving away from his comfort zone and I know that he's doing that because of Rosie. There can't be no other reasons for that!

I just love this book!

I am liking this section more than I did the previous section. I love the relationship that Don and Rosie have developed. I can't wait to continue reading and find out what happens next!

I was able to get this book yesterday and am now at the end of chapter 13. I am not really drawn in by this book, but it is an easy and somewhat entertaining read- a "literary potato chip," if you will.

I cannot get the image of Sheldon out of my head, except when Don exhibits some characteristic that varies from Sheldon Cooper or willingly changes a plan. His focus on timing also draws a line for me between the two, but for me, they remain virtually indistinguishable.


I expect I will finish this book rather quickly and I do look forward to learning more about Rosie and how the Father Project progresses.

I have literally laughed out loud so many times so far...on chapter 18 right now. My husband thinks I'm nuts too for laughing ;)

Dawn wrote: "Megan wrote: "Still really enjoying the book. Absolutely loved the section on the faculty ball and Don practicing sexual positions - super funny! Kinda sad I'm reading so fast but can't seem to ..."

I agree! I also feel like Rosie helps Don be more "normal", especially in social settings. Except of course when he meets her in her office and says "I was reconsidering your offer of sex". I laughed so hard!

Ashlee wrote: "it is so quirky I love it - the sexual position stuff is so funny - I think Rosie's character is amazing and she pushes Don so much in a good way is shows the best friendship ever - no matter what ..."

What does everyone think of the relationship between Gene and Claudia?

I'm up to chapter 18 now and loving it. Definitely warming to the vulnerable Rosie now. The Ball chapter was great with the awful Bianca, and Rosie showing protectiveness towards Don.
Gene and Claudia appear to have an unusual relationship.

I quite like that an unconventional relationship is represented in this book with Gene and Claudia. And like how it is normalised by Don who isn't aware of what is neccessarily conventional. I think it shows how much we can be impacted by the relationships around us. And how a "normal" relationship is relative.

I feel quite sorry for Claudia who seems to be hurt by her husband's infidelity. Don seems totally oblivious to the clandestine nature of Gene's extramarital relationships and constantly outs him as he cheats on his wife... It's funny how he never seems to 'get' it when Claudia is surprised that Gene isn't with Don.

It is also sad that this is the only example of a relationship that Don has to learn from, and what a detriment it can be to Don's own relationships, as we discover in the interaction between Don and Rosie. Gene should really be a better role model to Don, who he knows is susceptible to his influence.

Megan wrote: "Still really enjoying the book. Absolutely loved the section on the faculty ball and Don practicing sexual positions - super funny! Kinda sad I'm reading so fast but can't seem to put the book d..."

I agree really funny parts

I've really enjoyed Rosie as a character and appreciate how she challenges stereotypes--she pushes Don, and he clearly needs that.

I was quite upset with the relationship between Gene and Claudia. He doesn't see that what he's doing is hurting Claudia

I agree, but I'm surprised Claudia doesn't speak up. She has no problem telling Don what he needs to do to fix his life but doesn't take control of hers.

This is NOT to say that I blame Claudia for the situation that she's in--I just found her lack of action to be incongruous with the rest of what we know of her.

Sydney wrote: "I was quite upset with the relationship between Gene and Claudia. He doesn't see that what he's doing is hurting Claudia"

I felt the same way. Honestly, I freaking hated Gene so much. He was so completely full of himself and such a womanizer. The map on his wall? Pathetic and sad. I wanted Don to break up his friendship with Gene by the end because I saw nothing redeeming about his character.

Definitely. In her line of work you would think that she would know how to deal with the situation

I also think Gene's pathetic, but one thing in defense of him: he seems to really care about Don and want him to be happy. Sure, he's selfish with their friendship (e.g., using Don's project to further his own womanizing goals), but because Don has so few friends, his friendship with Gene was so important to him.

Kara wrote: "I also think Gene's pathetic, but one thing in defense of him: he seems to really care about Don and want him to be happy. Sure, he's selfish with their friendship (e.g., using Don's project to fur..."

That is true - I'd guess that's probably why his character was in the book. I did feel good reading about how forgiving Don was about Gene's flaws because it was kind of a mutual understanding of "I see your flaws and I get it, don't worry". And it was nice to see Gene change in the end.

Claudia was so awesome though and is someone I would want to be friends with in real life. I think I felt protective of her and wanted her to be happy, so I hope in the sequel they do find a happy place for their relationship.

Ooohhhh there's going to be a sequel?? :)

Sydney wrote: "Ooohhhh there's going to be a sequel?? :)"

That's what it said in the "About the Author" bit!

Loved this section of the book and the building relationship of Rosie and Don. My favorite parts of this section was were Don was talking about his family history and talked about the fact that everyone had tried to put him in a box such as OCD, depression, etc. but that he just didn't fit in those boxes. As much as you want to categorize Don I think this section of the book really points to one of the main themes of the book in that people can't be just put in these categorized boxes. Also absolutely loved their trip to New York and how Rosie has been drawing Don out of his norm. Can't wait to read the next section.

I just finished chapter 24. I'm not completely hooked but I'm liking how Rosie is getting Don out of his comfort zone and how he is starting to do it on his own as well. I really like Rosie! I think she is a fantastic character! For me I hope that you actually find out who Rosie's dad is!

Kayla wrote: "I just finished chapter 24. I'm not completely hooked but I'm liking how Rosie is getting Don out of his comfort zone and how he is starting to do it on his own as well. I really like Rosie! I thin..."

I also really enjoyed the father project aspect of this book. And it builds with plenty of tension!

So much to talk about in this section!!!!

First, I agree with those who are upset with Gene and Claudia's relationship. I get the feeling that Claudia is in denial, and doesn't want to believe that Gene is cheating on her; he seems very nervous when Don lets anything slip about Gene being someplace other than where he's told her he would be. It's possible that they have an understanding, but I suspect he's outright lying to her, and she's unwilling to consider that he's not faithful.

Second, the whole faculty ball was hilarious. I can easily picture Don dancing to the metronome in his head, which of course keeps perfect time, but then realizing too late that it wasn't set to the proper time! Rosie was great, bailing him out like she did. And was anyone else surprised about the dean's reaction? I really didn't expect her to respond by getting angry with the people who were laughing at Don. I guess she's not so bad after all.

Speaking of the dean, I was laughing out loud at her quick response to walking in on Don and the skeleton. Brilliant, and hysterically funny.

And, my favorite single moment so far: when Don is talking about understanding the importance of regular sexual activity, followed by "it gets complicated when you add a second person." Just put out there, like anyone would have said it! Oh, geez, how hilarious was that?