finally read it, it truly was a powerful message that is not to be taken lightly! 8/10 really enjoyed it!

This was a really interesting read and I’m glad to have had a chance to learn more about the author’s story. I think it caters to many people and would easily recommend it.

Oof. This book was a hard read. And not because I felt like I was reflected in it. In fact, late bloomer has become such a weird descriptor nowadays and is used for things that I don't think truly are "late bloomer"-esque. She wasn't getting married not because she didn't have options, but because she didn't want to settle. It's not like she wasn't having intimate relationships with other people.

I think most people who go into this book expecting advice for how to live as a "late bloomer" are probably more in the realm of the following: later-in-life virgins, people who never dated back in high school/college so feel like they might need some tips, people who were held back from their dreams and aspirations due to outside factors, etc. This book will be of no help to those people, as it truly felt like it was more dedicated to those who already have some experience with relationships.

While this wasn't a complete let down, a lot of this just felt redundant or unnecessary. There was also a lot of weird "advice" telling women to stop being so feminist at times and while I understood the message, it felt a bit rude.

I hope there are some out there who got something out of this book, but it was not for me.

As someone who can relate (and I never admit that relationships cross my mind), I loved the honesty, personal experience and support in this book. It is definitely needed and more need to be created.

This book had alot of great points, but much too long. Also the formatting of it made it really hard to read and follow. There were stray letters everywhere and sometimes the paragraphs were out of order.

That said I did learn some things that I will try to implement in my life.

Thank you NetGalley, Publishers, and Treva Brandon Scharf for gifting me a copy of Done Being Single: A Late Bloomers Guide to Love in return for my honest review.

4/5 stars

​Treva Brandon Scharf paid her dues in the dating world. She survived countless romances, relationships, boyfriends, breakups, heartaches, and heartbreaks. She loved and lost, dumped and got dumped, and finally became a first-time bride at the age of 51. Scharf, a gifted blogger and writer, is ready to share all the juicy details of her long road to the altar.

Her debut book is part self-help/dating advice, part-memoir, and 100% delightful. If you can stop laughing long enough, you’ll realize you’ve just met a one-of-a-kind force of nature who has managed to acquire an invaluable store of knowledge on life, love, and personal growth. Done Being Single: A Late Bloomer’s Guide to Love is a universal source of inspiration and practical advice.

This was a wonderfully written self-help/memoir that touches on difficulties that everyone faces in life and ways that they navigated them. It was a wonderful read that kept me entertained throughout. There were plenty of tips and advice to keep one from freaking out once you star to get up in years and are still single. This is a wonderful resource to all us single individuals!

“I t doesn’t matter if you’re a late bloomer or early blossomer; male or female; single or partnered; millennial or midlifer. It doesn’t matter if you’re divorced, widowed, new on the market, stuck in dating hell, dreaming of getting married, or just dreaming of getting laid, there’s something for everyone.”
This book is part self help/part memoir where the author tells her story of finding love later in life, and that it’s COMPLETELY OKAY!
While I am married, it gave me advice that I can take into other areas of my life OR help give advice to others. It’s okay to be a late bloomer, it’s okay to not wait and make sure the person is completely for you, instead of getting married just cause you feel you’re falling behind.
The author did an incredible job writing this guide. I LOL’d sooo many times in this book. I genuinely do not have a single critique!!!
The only thing that makes me sad about this is I don’t think it’s marketed near enough!

Done Being Single: 5 stars ⭐️

I wanted to like this more, especially as I'm the target audience. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. Lots of repetition, and while there are a few gems of information, it felt like it was mostly filler.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for offering this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars! Interesting read about the author's life dating and moving on to marriage a bit later in life. I was not familiar with the author nor did I know about her online presence. I kept seeing this book on my feed on GoodReads and thought it looked appealing. I married later than a lot of women do as well and dated quite a lot with various experiences. I definitely felt we probably had a lot in common.

I enjoyed the read and am thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to read for review.

Treva Brandon Scharf's "Done Being Single" is a refreshing and insightful guide for those who are tired of being single and ready to embark on a journey to find love and happiness. With her personal experiences and professional expertise as a dating coach, Scharf offers practical advice, encouragement, and a healthy dose of humor to empower readers in their pursuit of meaningful relationships.

The book is divided into well-structured chapters that cover various aspects of the single life, dating, and personal growth. Scharf doesn't hold back in addressing the challenges faced by singles and the emotional rollercoaster that often accompanies the quest for love. However, her approach is always uplifting, emphasizing self-worth and self-improvement as the foundation for attracting and nurturing a healthy relationship.

One of the book's strongest points is Scharf's ability to relate to her readers. Her personal anecdotes create an intimate connection, making the book feel like a genuine conversation with a supportive friend. Through her own stories of triumphs and failures in love, she normalizes the experiences of her audience, allowing them to feel understood and validated.

Scharf's writing style is engaging and humorous, which keeps the reader hooked throughout the book. She incorporates witty observations and relatable analogies to convey her messages effectively. This light-hearted tone balances well with the more profound insights and practical tips she provides, making the reading experience enjoyable and relatable.

While the book primarily focuses on the emotional and psychological aspects of dating and relationships, Scharf doesn't neglect the practical side. She offers valuable guidance on online dating, creating an appealing dating profile, and navigating the challenges of modern dating culture. Her advice is grounded in a realistic understanding of the dating landscape and encourages readers to approach it with a sense of empowerment and self-assurance.

Moreover, "Done Being Single" delves into the importance of self-care, self-love, and personal growth. Scharf emphasizes the significance of investing in oneself before seeking a partner, encouraging readers to build a fulfilling life independently. By emphasizing the importance of self-improvement, she empowers readers to attract healthy relationships based on genuine connection rather than settling for less.

However, one minor drawback of the book is that it occasionally veers into generalizations about gender roles and expectations. While the author tries to address a wide range of experiences, some readers may find certain passages too stereotypical or not fully encompassing the diversity of modern relationships.

Overall, "Done Being Single" is a relatable and empowering guide for anyone seeking love and happiness. Treva Brandon Scharf's honest and insightful approach, combined with her engaging writing style, makes this book a valuable resource for those looking to navigate the world of dating with self-assurance and authenticity. Whether you're new to the dating scene or have been single for a while, this book offers practical advice and emotional support to help you embrace your journey towards finding a meaningful relationship.

I love this book! And it came at a time when I really needed something like it, a little pick-me-up and emotional support. I admit I haven't finished it all yet, but I love to keep it on my phone and read snippets everytime I feel down or I go down the rabbit hole of feeling stuck and lost in my personal life.

Though the title may suggest it's a book about being single, it's much more than that. It's about embracing who and where you are and about feeling brave enough to start over, no matter how old you are. No matter where you think you should be at this point in your life (be it your 30s, 40's or 50's) and not losing hope that good things may yet to come. And if you are still single or in a relationship or divorced or whatever, it's important to be ok with yourself. Thank you so much to the author for putting all these stories in bookform and for the chance to read it.

I really enjoyed the author's optimism and outlook on life in general, but especially related to being single for a large part of her life. It felt like she truly learned a lot from all of the experiences that led to her being single for so long and she found meaning in the timing of meeting her husband. I'm not sure I completely connected with the author's style of writing, and I think I may have been looking for something deeper about how to cope with being single for so long when you don't want to be. I think this is a great offering, as there are so many people who remain single for a very long time, and everyone connects to different stories from others.

This was an interesting book, but not as insightful as I previously thought it would be. Though the cover is eye-catching I thought that the title was basic and the writing could be a bit lacklustre in places. That being said, the book was comforting too and provided a new perspective on love.

This book is a fun way to belong if you’re older and still dating. Definitely gives one hope that things will work out, and lends credence to the saying, “Every jar has a lid”. I met my husband in my late 40’s after a lifetime of dating the wrong men and losing Hope over and over again, but this book gives that hope back. Such a great topic to breach, especially when most of the world only sees dating as a young persons “sport”.

At the age of 50, Treva Brandon Sharf, thought she was destined to be single her whole life. Done Being Single: A Late Bloomer’s Guide to Love, is decades worth of experience and wisdom compiled into a short book. Treva encourages her reader’s to change their outlook on what it means to be single. After all, being single is not a scarlet letter one must wear. Instead, Treva encourages those who find themselves single to use their time to better themselves, discover their passions, and achieve all of their biggest dreams. You don’t need someone by your side to start your life, start living now. That is what she did and at the age of 51 she found herself walking down the aisle to the man of her dreams!

Coming into this book I thought this was a Christian perspective on being single. It definitely is not. Treva is a huge believer in astronomy and manifestation. While her beliefs don’t align with mine, she doesn’t spend much time discussing them. She merely mentions that some of her biggest dating mishaps were not ensuring her partners held the same morals and values as herself. No matter what your stance is on spirituality or religion, I think we can all agree morals and values are of the utmost importance and should be taken seriously.

I struggled with how to rate this book. In a lot of ways, I enjoyed it and found it insightful. At the age of 34 I myself am still single. Therefore, Treva and I have a lot in common. However, I struggled with some of her advice. Where I am conservative, she is liberal.

Special thanks to Smith Publicity (Greenleaf Book Group Press) and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was such an interesting read.

Immediately, the reader can tell that Treva has been writing for a while. She is not a novice to discussing this aspect of her life, and she does it well. The voice is fantastic and the perspectives were new to me and refreshing. I enjoyed reading about her experience as a late bloomer.

I love the cover art! The tattoo style title drew me towards the book, even though I have been married for 30 years. I was single until age 35, so I can relate to being a late blooming bride. In our wedding album, I included a note from my grandmother congratulating me, saying she didn't think I was ever getting married!
I was not aware of the author's internet presence before reading and may have appreciated the book a little more if I had already been familiar with her podcasts.
The narrative is funny and painfully honest, but seems to be more of a memoir than a self help book. Her life story is interesting, but the self help instructions are not all that original.

I really enjoyed this! Very, very relatable! I needed to hear a LOT of things that were in this book. And this will for sure be something I re-read.

3.5/5

I liked the general vibe of this book even though there was nothing new for me.
Main messages: Be proactive, know your worth, reframe life changes as opportunities.

Add to it a splash of the author's feistiness and her f*** off attitude. She is certainly a larger than life energy which won't be everyone's cup of tea but I'm here for it.

I rounded down to a 3.5 for the fact that it felt full of cliches which took away from her message rather than added to it. Though I think she is a good storyteller, I'm personally a bit tired of the approach to writing a book where each chapter starts with a well known quote and loose theme it feels like they had already recorded their thoughts on and could piece together for a book. Having said that, it makes sense considering she's a podcaster and I would be keen to check out some of her episodes with experts who could offer more insight.

The most valuable parts to me were some of her personal insights and metaphors, such as her anecdote about Yom Kippur and the day of atonement, which encourage the reader to forgive themselves and start each day afresh and don't carry around their shame and regret. This was something that was directly from her own experience and felt more meaningful. Her vulnerability to shine a light on her own mistakes and what she now sees impeded her growth was refreshing and encouraging.

I got more from her insights on being a late bloomer than I did her shares on singledom. I think this is because despite having been single for most of her life, it is difficult to take seriously when someone speaks at length about embracing single life and not to feel like a second class citizen from the pulpit of their happy marriage. It's not that her experiences as a long time single person aren't valid and valuable but needs acknowledging that this context can be difficult for a single person to listen to. It feels a bit too much like condescending sympathy in these parts.

I think this book would be most useful to readers that haven't read any self development books or any coaching. If you already know about popular psychology, attachment theory, the law of attraction, love languages etc then this will seem like a very surface level skimming of these topics.

If you have been single a while and never seen a life coach then I recommend this book for a dose of mojo, a bucket full of encouragement and a dash of tough love that could serve you well.

I read this as someone who recently emerged from their first long-term relationship, and has been feeling a bit scatterbrained because of it. This title caught my eye! I was looking for something guiding, steadying -- instead, I found antiquated and heteronormative dating advice between celebrity name-drops and nods to the author's podcast, where I imagine the real content for this book is hiding. Unfortunately, this didn't resonate with me.