I borrowed The Rosie Project from the library on a short loan and requested The Rosie Effect* before I had even finished! Captured by the story of Don Tillman, his love interest Rosie and their close knit friends, I was keen to see what happened next. There were mixed reviews on my social media about this second book. I wasn’t really sure why people were telling me bad things but I guess people need to share!
The story kicks straight in following on from The Rosie Project with Don and Rosie in New York. They are studying and working at the same university, spending a few nights a week working a bar job for fun, whilst trying to settle in a new city. It all takes a bit of a turn, Rosie takes it upon herself to get pregnant under a false assumption that it might take years. The life plan that Don has in his head, previously agreed with Rosie, is thrown into chaos. The result is a series of events that jeopardise their relationship and cause the reader much frustration.
There is little interaction between Don and Rosie, my favourite of the previous narratives, as they close off communication with each other to deal with the pregnancy. Instead new characters are introduced for Don to bounce ideas with who rarely advise him correctly. The subsequent comedy of errors became a sticking point for me. I kept shouting at Don and Rosie to have a proper conversation, the same conversations they were having with their friends.
If you are going to read this book I recommended reading it back to back with The Rosie Project*. The second book will feel less jarring and the lack of Rosiness will be overcome!
Enjoy PF xo
