A date with chastity

The sort of guys 28-year-old Sass likes are the kind who ask her out. Period. To say that her standards are low would be an understatement. Then she gets dumped six times in a row. She’s had it up to here with the crying and the hysterical getting-over-the-creep alcoholic binges, and firmly decides to go on a dating sabbatical. For three months, at least, there will be no “sex in this city”. Her friends try to talk her out of it but she’s adamant. She reasonably points out that chastity can’t be such a bad thing when you consider that nuns sing all time. Thereafter, her life becomes appreciably better: her career in advertising is suddenly going places, she has more time for her personal projects (writing stories) and better still, she does not spend quality time wishing, hoping, waiting for the phone to ring. Oddly enough, more and more men start asking her out — it’s as if she gives out sexy “hard to get vibes”. Things are going swimmingly on all fronts till she meets Jake, an irresistible hottie. Hats off to Sass — she thinks of him often but doesn’t give in — and even resists the temptation to flirt with him. Finally the three months are up and Sass is toying with the idea of extending the dating sabbatical: Will she succumb to Jake’s charms or live happily ever after alone The Dating Detox is good old-fashioned and straightforward Brit chicklit, with a down-to-earth heroine who wears shoes, not Choos! The designer wear that features in the book is merely high-street fashion, whew. And no fancy-schmancy Sex and the City cocktails here either — just vodka. Such a relief! It’s got all the lovely warm ingredients that make for a good comfort read: The customary tribute is paid to Jane Austen (Sass flips through Pride & Prejudice), yay! The heroine is quirky enough. A lot of alcohol is consumed and many excruciating hangovers are endured. The sisterhood is alive and kicking — girlie bonding is showcased at its best, and there are lots of amusing insights on men and relationships. Better still, most of the characters speak sarcasm fluently — the book is packed with great one-liners and lively repartee and banter. However, I do believe that this book could have done with tighter editing — it rambles a fair bit and it gets irritating when the heroine keeps banging on (and on and on and on and on and on) about continuing her dating sabbatical long after the idea has passed its sell-by date. Consider this: if Hamlet kept repeating, “To be or not to be” in every scene of every act, wouldn’t you feel like flinging a shoe (or a Choo) at him Even so, if you’re a chicklit fan, do read it. It’s bound to hit the spot. Particularly if you’re moping at home alone on a weekend with a pore-tightening mask on your face while the rest of the world is out having fun!