What a fantastic book. I was skeptical about a book written entirely in lists, but he made it work. I couldn't put this book down. It was funny, scary (not thriller scary, but there's a few parts where I was scared of the outcome) and all around a fun read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was not sure what to expect when starting this story.
A tale compromised of only lists was compelling because of its innovation, but I was also hesitant the story wouldn’t keep my attention.

I was so impressed with how much you learn about the main character, Dan, and his struggles in life. Not just surface level but his true heartfelt opinions and concerns with no societal veil between the reader and Dan’s mind. He is dealing with all the relatable issues (money, marriage, family and business), and his story is universally relatable. But it’s in the style of the telling that makes this novel truly unique.
The list format did get slightly stale toward the middle of the story, but it quickly picked back up and lead to an amazing ending. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the thoughts and “rules” Dan would write in his book. This is a raw and real portrayal of a man trying to do what’s best for his family.

Want to read this one? Too bad it isn't available in retail until November 2019 but, when it is...go out and get it immediately. I feel privileged that I was selected to receive an advanced copy from Netgalley and St Martin's Press.

I fell in love with Matthew Dicks' writing when I read Memoirs of an Invisible Friend several years ago. He has such a unique and almost childlike perspective on the world that makes you shift your view just a little.

This book is written as a journal in lists which makes it compulsively readable. My first session with this novel was a "one more chapter (month) then I'll go to bed, 2AM no regrets" experience. As Daniel grapples with being a business owner, a husband to a widowed wife and soon to be father, you could feel his panic and self-doubt blossom then subside throughout the course of his compulsive list making.

Yes, there are some repetitive lines and themes that removed a star for me, but it is so deeply human that I was willing to glaze over a few things to get to the heart of the book. I can't want to see how the public receives this one.

I really loved this book, so thank you for approving my request.
When I heard about this book, I was intrigued but nevertheless sceptical if a book made of lists could be enthralling until the end.
But it was captivating and funny and moving and I honestly adored the main quaracter. I couldn't put it down even though english is not my native language.
I have already ordered the book for our bookstore even though our section of english books is not huge and we don't often order hardbacks. Maybe there will be a german translation someday.

Downloaded from Netgalley -- free of charge in exchange for an honest review. </em></p>

I was going to quit this because it was so strange. But I kept reading it and the story unfolds nicely within the notes and the way they're formatted.


The notes feel like his way of dealing with the anxiety of telling his wife something important. They're notes about how much he loves his wife, his anxiety for being her husband -- and also, his bookstore isn't doing too well.</p>

I didn't think a story comprised of nothing but lists was going to work...but I was wrong. And I am so glad I was wrong. Even though the ending was a little to "neat" for my liking, the protagonist's daily journaling of his life, his fears, his anxieties was so real, I couldn't put the book down.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I thought I would love a book of lists, but it got tiresome and there wasn't much that was redemptive about the character to pull me through.

This book is absolutely delightful. I love the format. I feel like I really know the main character more because of his lists rather then if I read it with paragraphs. It’s funny, like laugh out loud funny, and really sweet. I’m telling everyone to read this!

It's official: I have a huge crush on Dan, the protagonist of this hilarious novel! If you like the humor of Dave Barry or Jonathan Tropper, this is surely the book for you!
I often read beside my husband as he is watching sports on TV. Yesterday I noticed him giving me the stink-eye and when I questioned him he told me I'd been laughing out loud consistently. Yes, guilty as charged.
I put off reading this book for awhile when I realized it was a novel of lists. How could that possibly turn into an interesting plot? I was wrong. Here are the two biggest reasons I loved this book:
1. Dan is a teacher who quits his job to open a bookstore. I taught high school English for 40 years and loved it. All of his comments about meetings and administrators are accurate.
2. I too, dreamed of owning a bookstore but, of course, never did,
Dan is a self-deprecating, admittedly flawed man who is worried about losing his wife Jill as he believes she is a much better person than he is (and because her first husband Peter still occupies her memories). Much of the novel is silly (yes, of course his outlandish plan to supplement his income is ridiculous) but the humor is subtle and as aforementioned, laugh-out-loud funny! Some of his suggestions are brilliant however, like the one where he questions the wisdom of putting Sesame Street characters on diapers (when we all know what kids do in them). Instead, he suggests manufacturers use suggestions for parents who will actually READ the diaper (as in read to your kids tonight, put down your phone, sing to your child).
The only downside I see is that now I will have to break down and buy the hardback copy when in comes out for myself and good friends, as there are so many things I need to re-read in this gem!
Oh, and the best advice I've heard that I think we should all adopt is one of Dan's Laws of the Universe:
"You should be required to read a book for every ten selfies you take," YES!!

A very creative, clever, entertaining and highly thought provoking read. I highly recommend this book!

Wow! What a wondeful read! I related to Dan so much usually it's hard to relate to a male main character as a woman but Dan was so relatable in his way of coping with stress in life. I too am a list maker I feel like someone I can organize all the chaos and mess if I make a list out of it. I can't say it's always effective but it gives one a small sense of accomplishment so I can understand Dan and his way of dealing with the chaos of his life he has presued his passion by opening a bookshop a dream of mine as well but soon finds himself struggling under debt and pressure when on top of it all his wife comes up expecting. A truly relatable story of the kinks life can throw our way and trying to keep our sainty during the midst of it! Laugh out loud funny at times and sad at others this book showcases the gambit of emotions we deal with throughout this thing called life!

Twenty-one Truths About Love follows Daniel Mayrock. He is a struggling owner and dealing with being in the shadow of his wife's dead first husband. Will he be able to find balance in his life?

Matthew Dicks did a great job writing this book! I was really able to connect with Daniel Mayrock's character. I will say the form of the book is nothing I've read before. The whole book consists of lists that Daniel has written several times a day. Now I'm sure you're like how can this work. Daniel's lists are able to give you an insight of his mindset and struggles he is trying to overcome.

I really enjoyed this book! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants something very unique.

Such a unique way to write a book! As a person who is guilty of making lists for everything I was intrigue (and hey it didn't hurt that he opened a book store- obviously I love books!). I was not really a fan of Dan, he seemed a bit of jerk to me but I still enjoyed the book. I learned a lot about the other characters through his lists. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

“To Do
Don’t ever die.
Read faster.”
This book, written entirely in the form of lists, was very interesting and refreshing. Daniel was, at times, infuriating.
His lists were:
- sometimes silly
- sometimes emotional
- sometimes useless
- often hilarious.
10. “We lie to the people we love the most to protect them from the worst parts of ourselves, which is true but also f*cking bullsh*t.” - 21 Truths About Love list
I will say that I hope my husband never lies to me as much as Daniel lies to Jill about their finances, but I do hope my husband follows his dream like Daniel with his bookshop.
“Bookshop” = quaint, privately owned
“Bookstore” = corporate, soulless - Important note in language list
Also, as a woman with a former partner who’s deceased, I hope I’m sensitive to the mention of said partner in future relationships as I often found myself feeling sad for Daniel and his struggle to cope with his wife’s dead first husband. Which leads me to the fact that this book had a lot of deep topics- very impressive for a book made up of only lists.
* “When your wife dies, people look at the space where she used to be instead of at you.” - Three hours with Bill Donovan list
I am thoughroughly impressed with Matthew Dick’s writing style. This book is a quick read while maintaining both humor and heartbreak.
I’d recommend this book to:
- anyone “starting over”
- anyone following their dream
- anyone starting a family
- anyone who’s lost a partner
- anyone in love with someone who’s lost a partner
- anyone who loves lists.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the novel. Great character.

5 stars because it was funny, it's creative, and it totally took me by surprise because I honestly didn't think I could get into a book of lists.
Well Matthew Dicks has done just that. He's given the reader a pretty clear story through lists that the main character, Dan makes. He started making these lists while in therapy and just kept it going so he would feel like he exists. He used to be a teacher. It's where he met his wife, Jill. But then he quit to open a book store and the store is losing money and he's afraid to tell her. We learn about Jill through his lists which include his thoughts about her but also quotes she's said to him or from texts. in order to try to make money he starts going to bingo and meets a war vet there who he starts to think of as an actual friend. This side character is the balance to Dan's wishy washy sad character with his gruff boldness. I really enjoyed this when I was in between books and wanted a laugh. I actually sniggered. SOL (sniggered out loud).
Get this as soon as it's published. You're not supposed to quote before publication but I don't care. Here's a tiny snippet:

Dan's Laws of the Universe 1. There is an inverse relationship between the amount of money in my bank account and my weight 2. Stupid customer questions always come in threes or hundreds. 3. Regardless of how much time a woman has to get ready for a night out she will always use all that time plus 15 minutes. 4. Men wearing ties buy fewer books. 5. A person's memory of the children's picture books from their youth never matches the quality of those books 6. Customers don't like paying full price for slender novels but don't want to read long ones, either. 7. The ratio of bad mail to good mail is 500/1. 8. Yes, airline seats recline, but they do so only as a means of identifying assholes on your flight. 9. Daylight savings time should happen at noon where it can be appreciated.

This was such a struggle to get through. Dan was a pessimistic, judgmental jerk with absolutely no redeeming qualities. I didn't enjoy his lists and didn't find him funny in the least. I liked the side characters in general and Bill in particular; he had personality.

I also liked the idea of a story being told entirely in lists, and maybe it was the author's execution, but it felt disjointed. Also, I don't understand why the only action came 80% into the story. It’s mentioned throughout the entire story but then all of a sudden it’s rushed and tied up too quickly without any consequence, which was ridiculous and completely unrealistic.

After seeing the format of this book I had my doubts but boy was I wrong. Twenty-one Truths About Love is a great novel. I found myself laughing out loud (literally) over several parts to this book. It is written in list form and even though that sounds odd it makes it a fun read. I found Dan funny and relatable. He writes down the things we all think but no one says. If you are looking for a fun read, grab this!

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Do you know why I really like this author? This is the second book I have read by Matthew Dicks and am really just blown away. He writes books that are unlike anything I have ever read. And I mean that is the best way. I thought Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend was fascinating and now Twenty-One Truths About Love is a novel made up of lists. That's right...just lists...It makes for a quick but really delightful read. His work is quirky and modern. The protagonist Dan is maybe not the most likable character, he is pretty needy and unsure of himself, however, I rooted for him throughout the book. He has some major internal struggles going on and as therapy, he writes lists instead of journaling. Some of his ideas are "out there" but he really comes into his own at the end. If you are looking for something different, check out this book and this author. You are in for something special.

Twenty-one Truths about Love is an enjoyable read. Matthew Dicks tells this story in an interesting manner.
Dan is a likable man and his story told through his lists is fascinating, unexpected and enjoyable.