The Pre-Loved edit from Shopbop
To share your reaction on this item, open the Amazon app from the App Store or Google Play on your phone.
Add Prime to get Fast, Free delivery
Amazon prime logo
Buy new:
-41% $11.14
FREE delivery Monday, January 27 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$11.14 with 41 percent savings
List Price: $18.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Monday, January 27 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Tomorrow, January 23. Order within 9 hrs 14 mins.
In Stock
$$11.14 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$11.14
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$7.29
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Used book in good condition. May have some wear to binding spine cover and pages. Some light highlighting markings writing may be present. May have some stickers and or sticker residue present. May be Ex-lib. copy. May NOT include discs or access code or other supplemental material. Ships directly from Amazon and is eligible for Prime or super saver FREE shipping. Used book in good condition. May have some wear to binding spine cover and pages. Some light highlighting markings writing may be present. May have some stickers and or sticker residue present. May be Ex-lib. copy. May NOT include discs or access code or other supplemental material. Ships directly from Amazon and is eligible for Prime or super saver FREE shipping. See less
FREE delivery February 7 - 20 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery February 6 - 17
$$11.14 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$11.14
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Rosie Project: A Novel Paperback – June 3, 2014

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 77,135 ratings

off. Enter code INSTAPAY10 at checkout. Discount by Amazon. Terms  off. Promo code INSTAPAY10 is saved to your account. Discount by Amazon. Terms  
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$11.14","priceAmount":11.14,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"11","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"14","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"4gmHVj2mUtv8Af4eZlhBiRrg5nVUcPwziRh93UF685sLoVajwoPRTZmENM7faPmlWdj9xHaf33EVTIz2WuqsMPzQlyWSRaW4l5Lx6ecadia2TdBQNm7OMalAbfddcrLSHhZbnAqviQ9K8PaVi0YLuw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$7.29","priceAmount":7.29,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"7","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"29","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"4gmHVj2mUtv8Af4eZlhBiRrg5nVUcPwz4IdwXovk9byhnR7f47KOL10I7k42gqbEdYHeCHOH%2FaHVCH2bs%2FELZdM11u81MfLfrhYtCln518PJ58IKp3ccV97J1RXfQWyCkL1E%2FpzzBgS5m7jExSJSEkVar3y88UC1YfJDt3QH0Hk9hR8eXoNvpt7MOLZU7WcQ","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

The international bestselling romantic comedy “bursting with warmth, emotional depth, and…humor,” (Entertainment Weekly) featuring the oddly charming, socially challenged genetics professor, Don, as he seeks true love.

The art of love is never a science
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

This item: The Rosie Project: A Novel
$4.81
Get it Jan 30 - Feb 4
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Ships from and sold by Windflower Bookstore.
+
$10.44
Get it as soon as Monday, Jan 27
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$14.14
Get it Feb 7 - 25
In Stock
Ships from and sold by RAREWAVES-IMPORTS.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Treatment
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Choose items to buy together.
Popular Highlights in this book

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Sometimes you just need a smart love story that will make anyone, man or woman, laugh out loud.”
San Francisco Chronicle

“Move over, Sheldon Cooper. There’s a new brilliant, socially inept scientist poised to win over a huge audience, and his name is Don Tillman, in
The Rosie Project. . . . It’s not surprising that debut novelist Graeme Simsion has a background in science—The Rosie Project, already a success in Australia, seems almost precision engineered to keep readers turning pages. But unlike its unexpectedly lovable hero, this rom-com is bursting with warmth, emotional depth, and intentional humor.” (A–)
Entertainment Weekly

“It’s natural to be wary of a novel that’s been the target of such gushy praise. Publishers in at least thirty-eight countries have snapped up the rights to
The Rosie Project, which has been touted as a ‘publishing phenomenon,’ an ‘international sensation’ and no less than ‘the feel-good hit of 2013.’ Well, squelch your inner cynic: the hype is justified. Australian Graeme Simsion has written a genuinely funny novel. . . . This is classic rom-com.”
The Washington Post

“Simsion’s attention to detail brings to life Don’s wonderful, weird world. Instead of using Don’s Asperger’s syndrome as a fault, or a lead-in to a tragic turn of events, Simsion creates a heartwarming story of an extraordinary man learning to live in an ordinary world, and to love. As Don would say, this book is ‘great fun.’”
USA Today

“An utterly winning screwball comedy. . . . If you’re looking for sparkling entertainment along the lines of
Where’d You Go, Bernadette and When Harry Met Sally, The Rosie Project is this season’s fix. . . . This charming, warmhearted escapade, which celebrates the havoc—and pleasure—emotions can unleash, offers amusement aplenty. Sharp dialogue, terrific pacing, physical hijinks, slapstick, a couple to root for, and more twists than a pack of Twizzlers—it’s no surprise that The Rosie Project is bound for the big screen. But read it first.”
—NPR.org

“Filled with humor and plenty of heart,
The Rosie Project is a delightful reminder that all of us, no matter how we’re wired, just want to fit in.”
Chicago Tribune

"Another great favorite:
The Rosie Project, a hilarious novel by Graeme Simsion. It’s truly one of the funniest and most poignant novels I’ve read, and when you’ve finished it, there’s an excellent sequel as well."
—Nicholas Kristof,
New York Times Newsletter

The Rosie Project opens as strongly as any comic novel I’ve read in a long time. . . . The book roars at high speed to its conclusion. . . . A highfunctioning but emotionally illiterate guy like Don makes a perfect unreliable narrator. . . . Happily, Simsion doesn’t give Don an unbelievable emotional makeover. Our man just learns to live by a more complicated algorithm.”
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

“One of the year’s most promising and original novelists.”
The Wall Street Journal

“Funny, touching, and hard to put down,
The Rosie Project is certain to entertain even as readers delve into deep themes. For a book about a logic-based quest for love, it has a lot of heart. . . . [an] immensely enjoyable novel.”
Booklist (starred review)

“Read-out-loud laughter begins by page two in Simsion’s debut novel about a thirty-nine-year-old genetics professor with Asperger’s—but utterly unaware of it—looking to solve his Wife Problem. . . . What follows are his utterly clueless but more often thoroughly charming exploits in exploring his capacity for romance. . . . This novel is perfectly timed.”
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Polished debut fiction. . . . Simsion can plot a story, set a scene, write a sentence, finesse a detail. A pity more popular fiction isn’t this well written. . . . A sparkling, laugh-out-loud novel.”
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“[A] bright, whip-snappingly funny romantic comedy. . . . Readers, too, will push eagerly through the narrative, and at the end they’ll have one thought: thank goodness there’s a sequel.”
Library Journal

“Don Tillman helps us believe in possibility, makes us proud to be human beings, and the bonus is this: he keeps us laughing like hell.”
—Matthew Quick, author of
The Silver Linings Playbook

The Rosie Project is the best, most honestly told love story I’ve read in a long time.”
—Kristin Hannah, author of
Fly Away and Home Front

“A world so original, in a story so compelling, I defy you not to read through the night. Read this glorious novel now, in the moment, where it lives.”
—Adriana Trigiani, author of
The Shoemaker’s Wife

The Rosie Project is an upbeat, quirky, impertinent gem of a read. As the novel makes its logically irrefutable progression, readers will become enchanted by what may well be the world’s first rigorously evidence-based romantic comedy.”
—Chris Cleave, author of
Little Bee and Gold

“This clever and joyful book charmed me from the first. Professor Tillman is an unlikely romantic hero but a brave, winning soul, and his quest to find a wife goes to show that rationality is no match for love.”
—Maggie Shipstead, author of
Seating Arrangements

“Graeme Simsion has created an unforgettable and charming character unique in fiction. Don Tillman is on a quirky, often hilarious, always sincere quest to logically discover what is ultimately illogical—love. Written in a superbly pitch-perfect voice,
The Rosie Project had me cheering for Don on every page. I’m madly in love with this book! Trust me, you will be, too.”
—Lisa Genova, author of
Still Alice and Left Neglected

“With the demands of children and work, it’s rare that I find myself so caught up in a novel that I literally cannot put it down—not for food nor for conversation nor even for sleep. Charming and delightful, I was so enamored of
The Rosie Project that I read it in a single, marathon sitting.”
—Ayelet Waldman, author of
Red Hook Road, Bad Mother, and Love and Other Impossible Pursuits

“Although there are many laughs to be found in this marvelous novel,
The Rosie Project is a serious reflection on our need for companionship and identity. Don Tillman is as awkward and confusing a narrator as he is lovable and charming.”
—John Boyne, author of
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

“Charming, funny, and heartwarming, a gem of a book.”
—Marian Keyes, author of
The Brightest Star in the Sky and This Charming Man

“I couldn’t put this book down. It’s one of the most quirky and endearing romances I’ve ever read. I laughed the whole way through. And now I want to meet Don!”
—Sophie Kinsella, author of the
Shopaholic series and Wedding Night

“I wanted to race through
The Rosie Project but had to make myself slow down from my usual reading pace, because of the number of sly jokes that I almost missed. A lovely, original, and very funny read.”
—Jojo Moyes, author of
Me Before You

About the Author

Graeme Simsion is the internationally bestselling author of The Rosie Project, The Rosie Effect, and The Rosie Result, featuring Professor Don Tillman, as well as The Best of Adam Sharp and, with Anne Buist, Two Steps Forward. Graeme lives in Australia.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Marysue Rucci Books; Reprint edition (June 3, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 295 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1476729093
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1476729091
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.84 x 8.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 77,135 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Graeme Simsion
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Graeme Simsion is a former IT consultant and the author of two nonfiction books on database design who decided, at the age of fifty, to turn his hand to fiction. His first novel, The Rosie Project, was published in 2013, followed by sequels The Rosie Effect and The Rosie Result. The books have sold some 5 million copies in 40 languages. Graeme's other international bestsellers include The Best of Adam Sharp and Two Steps Forward (sequel Two Steps Onward) written with his wife, Anne Buist. The Novel Project is a step-by-step guide to writing. His latest book is Creative Differences and Other Stories; the title story is a novella about a writing couple. Graeme lives in Australia and is a frequent speaker at book events and writing seminars.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
77,135 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find The Rosie Project an enjoyable and engaging read with humor that makes them laugh out loud. They appreciate the easy-to-read writing style that is suitable for anyone. Readers describe the book as a romantic comedy that balances romance, comedy, and pathos beautifully. They find the characters likable and relatable, with sympathetic side characters. Overall, customers describe the story as heartwarming, insightful, and life-affirming.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

6,440 customers mention "Enjoyment"6,440 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book. They found it entertaining and easy to read, with engaging characters. The quest to find the father was interesting and not too time-consuming. The book had its own charm and sweetness, with Don becoming more social and coming out of his academic bubble being fun.

"...the crafting, The Rosie Project tells the extraordinary and delightfully absurd tale of Associate Professor Don Tillman, a geneticist who, despite..." Read more

"...However, overall, this is a great summer read. It's a perfect follow-up if you've just read something really intense or heavy...." Read more

"...I will not give away spoilers but it really is great to see Rosie take to Don and Don take to Rosie and to be with them as they have their..." Read more

"...This is a story that is a stark, gorgeously-rendered reminder of what it means to be human, of the beauty and pain that make up life in equal measure..." Read more

3,545 customers mention "Humor"3,441 positive104 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find it witty, humorous, and entertaining. Readers appreciate the scientist's and student's quirky behavior. The book is described as a delightful read with insightful aphorisms.

"...Filled with wonderful aphorisms and observations, this is a joy to read and I cannot wait to lose myself in the sequel." Read more

"...The Rosie Project is light, humorous and filled with likable characters. Like my review? Check out my blog!" Read more

"...If you like a really good funny book, you will love this book also...." Read more

"...The Rosie Project is a warm, humorous, always honest, occasionally heart-rending tale of love found, nearly lost, and found again between two of the..." Read more

2,933 customers mention "Readability"2,726 positive207 negative

Customers find the writing enjoyable and easy to read. They describe the book as a light read that breaks up serious reading. The hero is likeable and admirable.

"...that explores love, friendship, ethics, compatibility, trust, communication and the lengths humans will go to in order to find, rebuff and recognise..." Read more

"...However, overall, this is a great summer read. It's a perfect follow-up if you've just read something really intense or heavy...." Read more

"...But it does not push the romance in your face which makes it good for anyone to read...." Read more

"...book with the main charcter, an unlikely hero, both likeable and admirable...." Read more

2,435 customers mention "Romance"2,281 positive154 negative

Customers enjoy the book's romantic story. They find it well-balanced with humor and pathos, making it feel like watching a romantic comedy. The book is described as sweet and almost wistful, with deeper emotions like bitterness, regret, and sympathy. Readers appreciate the first-person narration, which makes the story interesting. They love the evolving relationship and all its highs and lows.

"...this novel balances romance, comedy and pathos beautifully...." Read more

"...This was better than any romantic movie I have ever seen and sweeter than my coffee with cream and tons of sugar...." Read more

"...Simsion's debut is as much a love letter to life as it is a beautifully-crafted romance between an atypical hero and his maddeningly wrong "perfect"..." Read more

"The Rosie Project was one of those books that had an intriguing story concept which in theory would make it seem like a very enjoyable read...." Read more

1,862 customers mention "Character development"1,746 positive116 negative

Customers find the characters likable and sympathetic. They enjoy the fast-paced story that intertwines the two main characters' issues. The empathy for the main character develops humorous situations. It's a classic clash of extreme personalities with an endearing leading man.

"...The Rosie Project is light, humorous and filled with likable characters. Like my review? Check out my blog!" Read more

"...lens -- and finding in their relationship and polar opposites personalities a connection, validation, and support that complements one to the other...." Read more

"...They are both appealing characters, wise in many ways and kind to others even though they struggle with experiencing emotions...." Read more

"...the book was a sweet love story that had an endearing and charming leading man...." Read more

1,444 customers mention "Heartwarming story"1,416 positive28 negative

Customers find the story insightful and heartwarming. They describe it as an uplifting, life-affirming romance with a unique perspective. The book helps readers understand social misunderstandings and is thought-provoking.

"...A charming, life-affirming, hope-filled romance, Simsion's debut is as much a love letter to life as it is a beautifully-crafted romance between an..." Read more

"...They are both appealing characters, wise in many ways and kind to others even though they struggle with experiencing emotions...." Read more

"...that made me laugh, and sometimes cry and looked at love, personal relationships and self-discovery in a very different way...." Read more

"...n't like him for several reasons, but this book helped me understand the social misunderstandings he has and why my husband has remained his closest..." Read more

697 customers mention "Insight"679 positive18 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights. They find the main character knowledgeable and engaging, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of autism and people with it. The book provides an interesting look at Asperger's Syndrome, personal relationships, and self-discovery in a different way.

"...Filled with wonderful aphorisms and observations, this is a joy to read and I cannot wait to lose myself in the sequel." Read more

"...capture well the characteristics, behaviour and perspective of people with this condition...." Read more

"...cry and looked at love, personal relationships and self-discovery in a very different way...." Read more

"...Project is a tremendously enjoyable book that makes those facts immensely compelling." Read more

655 customers mention "Story complexity"445 positive210 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the story complexity. Some find it relatable and interesting from start to finish, while others feel some plot points are predictable and the story isn't unique.

"...he detonates explosives all too often, he composes a detailed, scientifically sound and hilarious (to the reader) questionnaire, which he submits to..." Read more

"...This is the rare story that hits all the beats of the format -- from the "meet cute" (here, the infamous Jacket Incident) through the resolution/..." Read more

"...Romantic? Barely. The author also fails at developing suspense around another relatively important aspect of the plot: the father project, as Don..." Read more

"...Nenertheless, I found that this novel seems to really capture well the characteristics, behaviour and perspective of people with this condition...." Read more

Lovable, and great for book clubs!
5 out of 5 stars
Lovable, and great for book clubs!
This was my book club's book choice. I have to say if you are reading it yourself or with others, it is such an enjoyable read. The main character will have you laughing and even possibly thinking differently.
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2015
    The Rosie Project was not what I expected at all. Having heard about this novel from numerous sources, I’m not sure what I did expect, only that after reading an interview with Graeme Simsion and his wife (the author, Anne Buist), I knew I simply had to read it – and I’m so glad I did.
    Originally written as a screenplay and five years in the crafting, The Rosie Project tells the extraordinary and delightfully absurd tale of Associate Professor Don Tillman, a geneticist who, despite his eidetic memory and OCD mannerisms, is unable to understand he clearly has Aspergers. Unlucky in love – well, in anything to do with women – and recognising he’s at least socially challenged, Don decides to embark on what he calls “The Wife Project” – something that makes perfect sense to him. Rather than continue to navigate a dating minefield where he detonates explosives all too often, he composes a detailed, scientifically sound and hilarious (to the reader) questionnaire, which he submits to dating websites and hands to almost any woman he encounters in order to find himself someone of the opposite sex with whom he’ll be compatible.
    Viewing the world through his own unique prism (eg. as soon as he sets eyes on a person he is able to assess their BMI), with no fashion sense and finding it difficult to deviate from the rigid self-imposed timetable by which he governs his life – professional and personal – Don is astonishingly charming and funny. Unconstrained by factors that bother all too many of us, the superficialities we deem important such as appearances, Don evaluates folk by different but significant criteria. I haven’t laughed out loud so often while reading a book in such a long time. Nor have a winced, felt my heart squeezed or rooted for a brilliant underdog quite the way I have Don Tillman.
    Evoking the world of someone with Aspergers as well as the politics and egos of academia with ease (having spent twenty plus years in the academy, I know Simsion captures it all too well), this novel balances romance, comedy and pathos beautifully. Don’s efforts to uncover a wife are heart-wrenchingly naïve, gauche, painful and belly-achingly funny.
    Likewise, the character of Rosie is as pragmatic and earthy as Don is impractical (for all his seeming sense). What he lacks in EQ, Rosie more than makes up for and their adventures together are a charming quest that explores love, friendship, ethics, compatibility, trust, communication and the lengths humans will go to in order to find, rebuff and recognise love.
    Filled with wonderful aphorisms and observations, this is a joy to read and I cannot wait to lose myself in the sequel.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2014
    Sometimes, you just need to read a story that's sweet and makes you feel good. Graeme SImsion's story of an autistic man on the hunt for love, The Rosie Project, left me feeling happy. This is not to say that the story is overly simplistic or unrealistic. In fact, the complications that our protagonist, Don Tillman, faces makes him an endearing character and his victories even more sweet.

    Don is nearly forty and he has never found love. He has a successful career as a tenured genetics professor at a University in Australia and he enjoys his highly routine life. He knows that he would like to also have a relationship, but he is not sure how a girlfriend will fit into his world. Don decides to be systematic about it and sets up a very detailed questionnaire to find a prospective mate.

    Don's best friend, Gene ( a philandering womanizer), sets Don up on a blind date, with Rosie, whom Don is under the assumption has passed his ridged questionnaire. Rosie turns out to be the opposite of most of the things that he thought that he wanted and conversely, she is absolutely perfect for him. Naturally, it's not as easy as it sounds, as Don's Aspergers Syndrome hinders his ability to communicate and to pick up on Rosie's emotional cues. Free-spirited Rosie does her best to push Don outside of his comfort zone, trying to get him to let loose from his regimented lifestyle.

    This is not a straight forward love story, in fact, the romance is only part of the plot. Rosie has enlisted Don to help her use genetics to find the identity of her father, a man with whom her mom had a one-night stand with back in college. Rosie and Don travel to America in efforts to solve the mystery.

    What makes this story so compelling is the way in which Simsion has written Don and the care he has taken to create a character living with Aspergers. Don is written in a way that even when he makes a major misstep, you are rooting for him to get it right the next time. He's funny, warm and he just tries so hard to navigate his life. Rosie is equally endearing, as she shows a great deal of patience with Don and is accepting of the way he is. The only changes that she tries to make are in areas where he needs a little push, like getting him to not eat the same meals on the same days every week. She loves him unconditionally.

    Admittedly, there were some plot issues that grew old, especially with the hunt for Rosie's father. The ending felt a little contrived and too neat. However, overall, this is a great summer read. It's a perfect follow-up if you've just read something really intense or heavy. The Rosie Project is light, humorous and filled with likable characters.

    Like my review? Check out my blog!
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Cliente de Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un libro que vale la pena leer
    Reviewed in Mexico on June 23, 2020
    Un libro increíble, lo acabé muy rápido porque la historia es muy buena, lo volvería a leer.
  • L. Barreto
    5.0 out of 5 stars So light hearted
    Reviewed in Brazil on April 15, 2020
    Very funny, very entertaining, perfect for taking your mind off daily problems. All The characters are so lovable, It makes me happy that there ia more Don Tillmann and Rosie ahead!
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on July 30, 2020
    Super funny. Made me laugh out loud.
  • Anantha Narayan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Heart-warming and funny
    Reviewed in India on June 23, 2020
    I enjoy the occasional romcom movie but I'm not a fan of this genre as far as books are concerned. The Rosie Project is a notable exception, however. It's a delightful read, funny and bitter-sweet.

    The book's opening line, "I may have found the solution to the Wife Problem" is the perfect opening to this heart-warming tale. Don Tillman, who has Asperger's Syndrome, is a 39-year old genetics professor at a reputed Australian University and embarks on a project to find a wife (the Wife Project) with the aid of a sixteen-page questionnaire. In the process, he meets Rosie Jarman, poles apart from himself, who would probably score a zero on his questionnaire and who upends his life. Don and Rosie start spending time together, and despite their misgivings, get attracted towards each other. On the way, Don embarks on the Father Project where he helps Rosie in finding her biological father among 44 doctors in her mother's medical class. He has just two close friends, womanising Gene and his psychologist wife Claudia, who guide him along the way. The book is narrated in the first person, and there are clear differences between Don's version of events and how they actually transpire. This makes the book even more endearing.

    The book is not without its drawbacks. While the book does talk about the challenges faced by Don with his parents, during his childhood and in social settings, it does not really delve into the difficulties faced by a person with Asperger's. Consequently, a reader with a near one with Asperger's could view the book as a trivialisation. Such a reader should be willing to overlook that aspect to enjoy this book -- it's a romcom after all. Also, the book becomes somewhat soppy towards the end. But given the overall breeziness of the book, I was willing to overlook it.

    Simpsion was an information systems consultant with a PhD in data modelling and had co-authored a book on that subject. That background makes The Rosie Project even more remarkable. Overall, it's a feel-good book that leaves you with a smile on your lips, perfect for the current Covid-related environment or for any other time for that matter. An interesting sidenote is that Don Tillman now has his own Twitter account, @ProfDonTillman.

    Pros: Heart-warming and feel-good, funny, a very easy read

    Cons: Some may consider this a trivialisation of Asperger's, a bit soppy at the end
  • Janet B
    5.0 out of 5 stars A QUIRKY CHARACTER YOU WILL LOVE AND KEEP YOU IN STITCHES!
    Reviewed in Canada on April 20, 2014
    "WIFE WANTED. Must be punctual, logical and enjoy travelling by bicycle. No smokers, drinkers, or horoscope readers need apply."

    Don Tillman is 39 years old, tall, fit and an intelligent Genetics Professor. His best friend, Gene, a psychology professor, has asked Don to fill in for him and give a lecture on Asperger's syndrome. Don agreed, but he would have to focus on the genetic aspects of the syndrome, which probably would be unfamiliar to the audience. There were children between the ages of 8-13 along with their parents in the audience. After the lecture, the parents didn't quite understand, but the children seemed to. Don informed them that Asperger's syndrome is something you are born with. The children stood on their chairs, punching the air and chanting "Aspies Rule." Don felt he had made his point effectively.

    Don has learned that married men were much happier and lived longer. So Don put together a 16 page questionnaire to help him find the right woman. He named it The Wife Project. Claudia, a clinical psychologist and Gene's wife introduced him to a few women. The first was Elizabeth. She had very firm ideas, which Don would soon come to find out. They went to a Thai restaurant. Elizabeth arrived on time which was a plus. When it came to dessert, she wanted apricot ice-cream. She would not accept another flavour. Don took her to an ice-cream parlour across the road. The flavour had to be apricot or she would pass. They had every flavour but apricot. Don named it The Apricot Ice-Cream Disaster.
    Date #2 was named Olivia, a Hindu woman, who was an anthropologist. She arrived 28 minutes late. She was named The Late Woman. When Don asked her if she was a vegan, she said she wasn't. He asked her if she eats ice-cream. Her reply was "as long as it was not made with eggs." Despite this, Olivia was excellent company. They talked and talked until they were the last people to leave. They exchanged contact information and then went their separate ways.

    Don was slowly finding out that the questionnaire wasn't working out too well.

    Don lived a very structured life filled with routines, timetables and everything he did had a Project title to it. He was awkward in social situations. Perhaps he has Asperger's syndrome. His pantry was organized by the day. The ingredients he will use were prepared for that day.

    Gene decided to change things and not stick to the questionnaire. Gene introduces Don to Rosie Jarman. Don planned on taking Rosie to an exclusive restaurant named Le Gavroche. He made reservations online under the name of the Dean so that he could have a VIP table. When he arrived, he was told that they have a dress code and he wouldn't be allowed to wear his Gore-Tex jacket. Don couldn't understand why and a fight ensued between Don and the doormen. Rosie arrived and ended the fight. She knew the men, since she once worked there. They still had to leave. Rosie was hungry, so she decided that Don would make dinner for both at his home. Rosie was a bundle of joy and so full of life. Rosie moved things outdoors and dinner was eaten there. She wasn't anything like the questionnaire Don had prepared. so he had no intention of considering her as a prospective wife, but opposites attract they say. Into the conversation, Rosie told Don her mother had died when she was only ten years old and she was now looking for her biological father. Don was a geneticist and he could certainly help her. They spoke for hours and now he would put his Wife Project on hold for the time being. He would begin by The Father Project followed by The Rosie Project and so The Rosie Project began.

    The Rosie Project is the first book that Graeme Simsion has written. It's an unusual story with a character you will come to love. Don Tillman is quirky, hilarious and logical. You will be transported to a world full of laughs, so cozy up in your favorite chair and enjoy this delightful book.