Rachel had me hysterical from the first pages ,the men she meets the situations she gets into.So well written so open so revealing & emotionally moving.,she sounds like so many of my girlfriends searching for mister right mostly meeting mister never right.# NetGalley #shewritespress

As someone who stumbled through the dating apps during their height of popularity once I graduated college, I remember the experience all too well - at the end of the night, despite the constantly flowing texts, the numerous "likes", and the endless "how are you still single??" remarks, it never feels like it gets any easier. And that was in my early 20s, so I imagine it only gets more difficult and frustrating as we get older.

Lithgow has a brilliant way of bringing humor such daunting subjects while still being serious, raw, and showing them for what they are. Despite not being able to relate to everything in the story, it was an enjoyable read that I think will resonate to anyone in the dating world, regardless of age and situation. While staying relatable, she teaches us some powerful lessons that are much easier said than done.

Thanks so much for the ARC - I recommend this to anyone feeling like they're "stuck" or in a rut. Nothing's wrong with you, sometimes it's just not the right timing...and boy have I learned that again and again!

Rachel is newly a single mom. Her ex husband and ex in-laws are less than supportive, and the man she was dating, and thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with, is moving across the country with his a real estate agent.

We follow Rachel as she navigates through the horrors that are online dating as well as making sure her children are well supported and loved. She leaves no detail behind when describing these memorable encounters and we feel her optimism as well as her disappointment. I related greatly to the peril that is translating online banter to an in person date.

I also enjoyed reading about her dynamic with her ex husband and ex in-laws. Rachel truly preserved through scenarios that would make most throw in the towel. She never forgets who she is and what her worth is, and fiercely advocates for her children.

I loved reading about Rachel's emotional transformation toward the end of the memoir and was inspired by her process of falling truly in love with herself.

I highly recommend this memoir to anyone - I truly found it laugh out loud funny and utterly heartbreaking and deeply profound. This is Rachel Lithgow's first published novel, and I certainly hope it's not her last; I will ready anything she writes!

Huge thank you to Rachel Lithgow, She Writes Press, and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This was a wild ride and I enjoyed every minute!

As a single woman in my fifties after divorce, I found this memoir refreshingly honest, witty, and deeply relatable. Rachel’s writing is so vivid that I often resonated with the awkward, funny, and sometimes painful dates.

But the book is about much more than just disastrous dating stories. It opens a window into the reality of leaving a difficult marriage, raising children, and navigating the complicated emotions that come with starting over on your own. Rachel doesn’t shy away from showing the loneliness and vulnerability of being single again, but she balances it with humour and sharp observations that are, at times, hilarious.

What struck me most was how seamlessly she moves between humour and heartbreak. This isn’t just entertainment — it’s a candid look at resilience, identity, and finding yourself again in midlife. If you’ve ever wondered what dating after divorce really feels like, this memoir is spot on.

Thank to NetGalley for the ARC in return of an honest, unbiased review.

This book felt so honest and open. It easily could have been a friend sitting beside me with a glass of wine or a mug of coffee. It could have been my favorite show playing in the background as I’m doing my chores, inevitably getting sucked into watching instead of finishing them. These were all good stories, a lot full of so-so people.

I could easily see anyone in my life reading this, and I’ll happily recommend it to them!

Holy whizz, this was literally the best timing ever for this book . As someone who's newly entered the world of being Single after 22 years I found this book to be slightly terrifying with equal parts of excitement. There was many laugh out loud moments, Rachel is someone I would love to be a friend with . She's woven together a perfect book of the ins and outs of dating and mating. I loved it SO much!

Thank you for this read it was very enjoyable I was entertained read it pretty fast my first from the author it’s a fun fast paced book others will love it as well

Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for providing me with the ARC.

I must admit that I stepped out of my comfort zone when reading this book. And it's been a surprise, in a very good way.

Rachel Lithgow, approaching fifty, divorced and mother of two teenagers, offers us a collection of her dates since her divorce. Her worst dates. If you have faith in finding love on a dating app, Rachel shows you what to expect. Especially when you're dealing with immature grown men.

But it's not just a story about a quest for love. Rachel also gives us an insight into her life, her will and journey to move on from her divorce (and abusing family). Her journey to reconnect with herself.

I'm very fond of her written style, the way she relates her dates and her life is both light, smooth and poignant.

What else can I say other than that Rachel Lithgow is an inspiring woman, trying to move on from deceiving love relationships, such as a lot of women on this Earth.

Her memoir seems written for every woman who thinks, who has been told that she is not enough. To women that have been told that they can't live their life without being in a love relationship. Yes, because My Year of Really Bad Dates reminds us also that life is not all about being in a love relationship.

Rachel Lithgow is definitively a talent to watch in the future.

This book surprised me in the best way. I thought it would just be a collection of funny dating horror stories, but what kept me turning the pages was how layered and personal it felt. The bad dates are there (and some of them are truly cringe-worthy), but they’re really just the backdrop for a much deeper story about rebuilding after loss and figuring out who you are when life doesn’t go the way you planned.

I really appreciated Lithgow’s voice - she’s sharp, self-aware, and not afraid to show both her mistakes and her growth. One chapter had me laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all, and the next would cut deep with something raw and vulnerable. That mix of humor and honesty made it feel real, like hearing a friend tell you stories over a bottle of wine.

If you’ve ever found yourself starting over, whether in dating or just in life, there’s a lot here to connect with. It’s messy, funny, and sometimes painful, but ultimately hopeful.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book in advance. I enjoyed My Year of Really Bad Dates. Rachel is very relatable in her pursuit of a meaningful relationship. It seems she has been disappointed by her former partner, his family, and much of her family. I really enjoyed that she has a fun and varied friend group that makes appearances throughout the novel. I was so happy that she had some people she could talk to and rely on, and it was a testament to her character that she had built some fantastic relationships over the years and maintained them. I was confident by the end of the book that Rachel had learned some things about herself along the way during her year of dating, and I found myself cheering by the sidelines that she would eventually find a partner as interesting and caring as she deserved.

The dating book i didnt know I needed!!
Five minutes into this book and I was highlighting passages I wanted to remember all over the place. Rachel Lithgow has a terrific way of blending together humor, sadness and trauma that makes it so incredibly relatable. I saw so much of myself in the journey she writes about. Honestly I feel that writing hilarious stories about your terrible dates may just be the best therapy for them.
An absolutely 5 star read for me!
A huge thanks to She Writes Press and Netgalley for this ARC!!

This book came to me at the right time. I love it when that happens. Like the author, I found myself losing my dad, marriage troubles, and more. I found it to be a fascinating and authentic book. She is brave and true to her words. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Entertaining and a bit cringey, this book is a great read. Loved every page.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

I am on a rolll with books on dating it seems.

I loved this bookk both for the "situations" and because of the good pacing, which is a huge issue for me).

In the first chapter, I was not sure I would love this, it was a bit slow, but I have never been great at sitting through a chapter or two to give the readers the lay of the land.

Fortunately, thie book picks up quickly - but I had to laugh at the "date" who leaves for a cult, I do not know if that was supposed to b e a bit of tongue and cheek, but I thought it was funny.

What I like most about this book is the lessons that are learned with every relationship - yeah, it was horrible, but I discovered a lot about myself.

The pace picks up after the first chapter and I am rooting for Rachel!

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Rachel is going through life changes of being single and entering the dating world later in life after a public divorce. We learn more about her internal feelings, being in conflict with an ex/family and how she has to work to prioritize what is best for her and putting herself first, which is a challenge.