As I work through older reviews on my reading list, I finally got around to this one. This is my generic review for books where too much time has passed for me to recall very specific details, but this is what stood out in my memory. While it was an okay read, a few aspects fell short for me. The character development felt somewhat lacking, making it harder to fully connect with the story. The pacing of the narrative was fine but didn’t quite draw me in as much as I’d hoped. Overall, it’s a decent book, but not one that left a lasting impression.

I wanted to like Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling. The premise sounded like a fun, lighthearted rom-com with plenty of snark and charm. Unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me, and instead of witty humor, I found a story riddled with clichés and characters that felt more like caricatures than real people.

Sam, the self-proclaimed ladies' man, is supposed to come across as confident and charismatic, but instead, he feels shallow and unlikable. His "guide" to getting girls is cringeworthy at best and downright obnoxious at worst, relying on tired tropes that haven’t aged well. Ally, his best friend and the supposed heart of the story, deserves so much better than being caught up in Sam’s predictable and eye-roll-inducing antics.

The dialogue tries hard to be clever but often feels forced and unnatural, like it's trying to appeal to a teenage audience by throwing in as much sass and slang as possible. The story also lacks depth, skating over any opportunities for real emotional growth or meaningful connections between the characters.

Worse, the central premise of "getting girls" feels outdated and uncomfortable, as if the book leans too heavily on stereotypes instead of offering any fresh or empowering perspectives. By the end, I wasn’t rooting for Sam or Ally—I was just relieved it was over.

If you’re looking for a smart, funny rom-com, there are much better options out there. This one missed the mark entirely for me.

I won't be able to leave a review for this book; I requested it in a past lifetime of my NetGalley use and it no longer fits with my reading interests. If I ever do end up reading it I'll come back and update this!

Overall, the story line is a poorly written version of Pygmalion, with obvious changes for the best friend aspect. It does have some geeky references, but those only serve to date the book.

While I was reading this story I was thinking it would definitely be good for a male reader, but not necessarily a reluctant reader.
It reminded me of a Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist kind of adventure story.

I have lost interest in this book. I will not be reading and reviewing it at this time but may do so in the future.