*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

3? 3.5? I actually really liked this book and the only reason it didn’t get a higher rating is because Dan is actually the worst and I don’t like that things worked out for him in the end.
Bill? Love him. Jill? A goddess. Steve? Want to know more about him. Peter? I wish he was alive too. Dan? Shut up already.
I do love how much Dan loves his wife but I wish he would have focused less on Peter and focused more on other alternatives for cash than resorting to crime. Even if it was the DAR.
I absolutely love the style this was written in, it gives the reader such a unique first person perspective and we don’t actually see the main character interact with anyone so we really have no choice but to trust what he says.
I hope to be able to read more from this author, ideally a book with a less morally ambiguous main character.

This was a different approach!!

Book of lists - it threw me for a minute..
then I could see what the list writer/author was saying

The football lists were funny.

"The single greatest thing you can do to
guarantee your future success is to read a lot."

Matthew Dicks' Twenty-one Truths About Love did not make my list of favorites. IMO the list concept was not cohesive and was very hard to follow.

Touching Story about Male Anxiety in a Modern World in List Form

Dan makes lists, lots of them, about every mundane thing you could possibly imagine. These lists are strung together to make up this novel of a thirty-something year old male who lives in a perpetual state of anxiety over his fear of being unable to care for his family.

Dan is having financial difficulties. He left his teaching position, the only thing he is qualified to do, to open a bookstore. The store is not doing well and he is afraid to tell his wife, Jill.

Then Jill becomes pregnant and Dan goes into full crisis mode. All of his worst fears come rushing to the surface including the ones originating from his own troubled relationship with his father. He makes an outlandish decision based in that fear.

Dan is a sensitive guy yet under confident and insecure. He loves his wife but is unable to be a real partner due to his unresolved baggage. His obsessive list-making serves as a diversion to tackle his problems head on.

Still, the story holds a certain charm mostly contributed by the ancillary characters, especially his older friend Bill whom he meets at a bingo game. It’s rather lighthearted and a bit more original coming from the male perspective, Written entirely in list format, the story flows evenly as Dan’s coming of age progresses.

BRB Rating: Read It.

Funny and quick to read, I simultaneously thought Dan's lists were hysterical and proved he utterly lacked confidence in himself and his relationship with Jill. Loved his friendship with Dan, his lists about Kimberly, and the ridiculous thoughts in his mind.

I tried, because I was intrigued to see how it would play out, but I just couldn't do this one... The list idea was a clever construct, but like so many non-traditional clever constructs, I struggled with it and ultimately couldn't find enough story in it to keep my attention. It is entirely possible I am the wrong generation for this one - a reader born and bred on twitter and sound bites would likely be a much better fit than someone who grew up with newspapers, epic sagas, and seven-book series! Seriously though, it's a fun idea - just not a good fit for me. I found it tough to parse out where things were supposed to be heading or to get enough character development to find myself lost in the story, as opposed to the minutiae of daily life.

If I hadn't seen this book on NetGalley I don't think I would have picked it up to read. Who writes a book of all lists - how will that be an enjoyable read? Well, it was! It is amazing how fast the lists morph into a story. And for the author's sanity, I'm glad he wrote this book - it would be hard to keep this many lists in your head at any one time. It's a compelling story and often witty; albeit sometimes I think he is trying a tad too hard at it. Try it - I think you'll like it.

I'm looking forward to hearing what others think of this book and what the author comes up with for his next book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an early release in exchange for an honest and fair review.

This was a very uniquely written book. One would think it would be incredibly hard to tell a story just using lists. I found Dan's list funny and sometimes sad. I liked that he showed his vulnerable side in his lists. He also had no problem expressing when he was wrong. I think I would have liked to her a bit more of Jill's side of their life but that would have been a much different book.

If you are looking for a new interesting way to hear/read a story this book is for you!!

I really loved Bill. He was such a warm addition to this book.



I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press

Unfortunately, this format is just not for me. It was a very original idea, I just lost interest after a few pages. Won't be reviewing.

Dan gave up his steady career with a regularly salary to open up a not so profitable bookshop. He is running out of money, his wife wants a baby and does not know about their financial situation. As a coping mechanism, Dan writes a lot of lists. This story is told though those lists throughout the whole book and you really get to see inside of his overthinking and desperate brain. This book made me laugh a lot, which is what I want in a light easy read. You can pick this up and definitely read it in one sitting. The character Dan did annoy me at times though as he did come across as quite whiney and I Half expected to see a “why me” as one of the list points! Thank you to NetGalley and St Martens Press for allowing me access to the eagalley of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Quick read, what I would call a palate cleanser. Format works better than expected. Expect some cries of "white male privilege." I'm probably too old for this book - too much millenial angst.

The concept of this book - and the way it is written, in small postings/list form - is quite new to me. Because of this format, you can easily burn through the book in one day. However, the main character, Daniel, is not very likable. It's hard to have sympathy for a character who seems so spineless as to let pretty much everyone walk over him throughout the whole book. That being said, the story kept my interest and I finished it with maybe a tear or two in my eye. I won't recommend it but I also won't say don't read it.

Twenty-one Truths About This Book
1. Dan is not a good guy and that's okay.
2. He is, in fact, an interesting character.
3. The list format of this book was the real draw. It made an otherwise simple plot structure compelling and the overall book completely devourable.
4. Dan and his comments on his wife's religion became a bit over the top. It could have been a place for a perfect discussion about households with mixed religious backgrounds. But, in the book's defence, this made sense for his character (Is this one point? I'm classing it as one point)
5. Jill is an angel, she has no flaws. Because her husband idolises her.
6. I like Patrick more than Dan.
7. Jill probably did too.
8. I think Dan likes Patrick more than Dan,
9. Steve is the real MVP of this whole book.
10. Scratch that. Bill is the MVP and every time he got emotional it hurt my heart.
11. The interactions between Jill and Bill seemed a bit over the top.
12. That's my issue with the book and why it is a 5-star read. Dan came out on top. He got everything he wanted. The lack of consequences for him was truly astounding. He wasn't even the one to fix his own mistakes.
13. The titular list was kind of a letdown. But its a good book title.
14. Didn't really like the poem at the end.
15. But the character interactions were gold.
16. I want a little Debbie Snack Cake.
17. Dan is funny.
18. Again about the structure. It tells me everything I need to know without being boring and lets the writer hold the perfect amount back from the reader so the intrigue is still there.
19. I will now be wary if I ever go to a bingo hall.
20. I want Bill to adopt me.
21. I want Dan to face the music. I hope he’s a good dad.

(ARC sent via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

This book is written in list format. I just couldn't get into the style and didn't enjoy it. It is a quick read and it was interesting his style of writing but I couldn't get into the story.

I read this book in one sitting!! It went along fast. This book made me cry and laugh! The writing style was great!

The list device got tiresome--perhaps a bit of typical narration thrown in with the lists would've made it less tiresome. The main character isn't very sympathetic. I am sorry to say I learned no truths about love.

The concept of this book is great, a story told in the form of lists. However, I really didn’t like the main character. He was just so whiny and insufferable and all he does is complain. The book was all over the place and I had a really hard time finishing it. The ending was super WTF and needed to be flushed out rather than rushed along to end the story.

This is a witty and engaging account of a married man and the joys and pitfalls of love. Written in diary and list form, it is engaging and thoroughly enjoyable!

My truths about
1) I enjoy a good list
2) A novel written entirely in lists is clever.
3) The character were well defined but I didn’t like any of them.
4) I felt cheated out of substance-I was annoyed when the narrator/author used lists created by others (Jonathan Swift for example)
5) Good effort.

I voluntarily read and review an advanced copy of Twenty-One Truths About Love. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One of a kind! The list format was the most original idea I have ever seen attempted in a novel. It is amazing how well it worked. A timid man who found his spine, Dan was a character with whom it was easy to relate. Again, I am impressed and amazed at how emotions, conversations and actions were conveyed through lists alone. This was a great storyline to begin with, made all the more interesting by the list format. (I could maybe see a series following other characters...since I would hope that Dan's life will calm down a bit now!) VERY COOL!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Matthew Dicks for the ARC!!!