Penguin, £9.99, ISBN 978-1-4059-1279-2
Contemporary Fiction, 2014 (Reissue)
Graeme Simsion’s The Rosie Project is a quirky tale of love, logic, and cocktail mixology, wrapped in a delightfully odd package that only the most endearing social misfit could deliver. It follows Don Tillman, a man so regimented that Sheldon Cooper would label him “rigid,” as he embarks on the logical (read: absurd) quest to find a wife via a questionnaire that screens out all the “wrong” women. Spoiler: It doesn’t work.
First, let’s give credit where it’s due. Don Tillman’s approach to love is refreshingly different. Just imagine if Mr Darcy had run Pride and Prejudice on a spreadsheet. You can’t help but root for him, even though it’s glaringly obvious that his meticulous plan will fail the moment it meets the chaotic and wonderfully unpredictable Rosie, who couldn’t be more wrong (and therefore right) for him.
Mr Simsion’s portrayal of Don is the novel’s greatest strength. Socially awkward yet earnest, Don stumbles through the messy world of human emotions like a robot learning to salsa. It’s awkward, a little cringey, and very funny.
The romance itself is predictable, but who cares? You come for the hijinks, the laugh-out-loud moments, and Don’s overly logical commentary on life. The plot itself hits all the familiar beats: boy meets girl, boy bungles interaction with girl due to utter lack of social skills, boy learns to chill out and let love bloom. Classic stuff.
The Rosie Project is not without its quirks, however, and I don’t just mean Don. Rosie, though charming and spunky, feels like a manic pixie dream girl’s rebellious cousin. She’s fun, unpredictable, and exists largely to shake up Don’s world. The lack of depth to her character occasionally feels like a missed opportunity. While Don gets a rich inner life, Rosie’s role often seems to be that of an adorable whirlwind, more force of nature than fully realized person.
Also, the science-vs-romance dichotomy can sometimes feel a bit on-the-nose, like being hit over the head with a lab coat. Yes, we get it: love can’t be quantified like a chemical reaction. But Simsion spends a lot of time proving that point. By the end, you might feel ready to tell Don, “For the love of all that is holy, just kiss her already!”
However, if you’re willing to forgive these minor infractions, The Rosie Project delivers a heartwarming, hilarious ride. It’s a light and breezy read, full of wit and humor, and offers the rare pleasure of seeing a protagonist who’s a bit of a hot mess—just not in the usual romantic-comedy way. Don may start out trying to engineer his perfect relationship, but it’s Rosie (and life’s messiness) that teaches him that love, much like cocktails, is better when it’s a little improvised.
