Scan barcode
amparker__'s review
3.0
This book reinforces a lot of lessons I’ve learnt from dating and it’s nice to be reminded that dating can be TOUGH.
I didn’t like that the is super heteronormative (I know she acknowledges this) but it’s almost cringey straight culture BS at times. Like according to Foster Blake men like to pursue women and women like to be pursued? And you need to wait a certain amount of time before texting someone? I hate hate hate hate those “dating rules”. The only rules you need are to be respectful and kind both to yourself and whoever you date.
I didn’t like that the is super heteronormative (I know she acknowledges this) but it’s almost cringey straight culture BS at times. Like according to Foster Blake men like to pursue women and women like to be pursued? And you need to wait a certain amount of time before texting someone? I hate hate hate hate those “dating rules”. The only rules you need are to be respectful and kind both to yourself and whoever you date.
elnechnntt's review
3.0
Closer to 2.5
I feel me and Blake could get on well over a glass of wine, so long as she might be prepared to knock off the 'I'm-SO-fun-and-self-deprecating' crap and admit that a lot of what is contained in this book is a load of pith.
It is telling that many of the Q&As are from women aged 18-19 or in their early twenties. Blake has clearly found her audience and I am definitely not it. I too might have lapped up her advice when I was in my early twenties, but am glad this book wasn't around then for me to rely on as I also don't agree with some of its messages now as a thirty-something (too cliched, too gender-stereotyped, too lacking in EQ development).
An editor once told me a piece of advice worth its weight in gold: if you have to rely on exclamation marks and swear words (or in this case as well, pretty typography and coloured pages) to get your point across, then your points aren't worth making.
A good starting point of a book for those new to the game of love, but not one I would encourage anyone past the age of 22 to rely upon. If nothing else, it made me thankful for the lessons learnt from my less than savoury past experiences and gave me a renewed sense of gratitude for my current (very mature, very healthy, very loving) relationship.
I feel me and Blake could get on well over a glass of wine, so long as she might be prepared to knock off the 'I'm-SO-fun-and-self-deprecating' crap and admit that a lot of what is contained in this book is a load of pith.
It is telling that many of the Q&As are from women aged 18-19 or in their early twenties. Blake has clearly found her audience and I am definitely not it. I too might have lapped up her advice when I was in my early twenties, but am glad this book wasn't around then for me to rely on as I also don't agree with some of its messages now as a thirty-something (too cliched, too gender-stereotyped, too lacking in EQ development).
An editor once told me a piece of advice worth its weight in gold: if you have to rely on exclamation marks and swear words (or in this case as well, pretty typography and coloured pages) to get your point across, then your points aren't worth making.
A good starting point of a book for those new to the game of love, but not one I would encourage anyone past the age of 22 to rely upon. If nothing else, it made me thankful for the lessons learnt from my less than savoury past experiences and gave me a renewed sense of gratitude for my current (very mature, very healthy, very loving) relationship.
e11en's review against another edition
3.0
Lots of helpful little nuggets about love, interspersed with Zoe's clever, sassy humour. I'm giving it an extra star for the design and layout alone, as the whole thing is just so damn beautiful.
_sarahco's review
3.0
I love Zoë. Her writing style is warm, compassionate, empowering, and zesty, and this is a collection from her decade as an advice columnist for Cosmo. This is no Esther Perel, but it's light-hearted, fun, and extremely easy to read.
elfynbellburrow's review
4.0
Zoe Foster Blake is amazing and for someone new to her work this would be a great amalgamation of her previous relationship books. I've read all of her other books so for me this was simply re-stating a lot of the lessons she had already published in other works. She does try to be a lot more gender neutral and inclusive in LOVE though.
memily's review
5.0
Colloquial writing but bang on my kinda tone. Kinda wish I’d had a book like this on my shelves throughout my 20s.
I’m very single currently but it has so many good messages (and some shit ones but nobody is perfect and ZFB isn’t claiming to be). I’ve definitely aged past the target market for this (as I said, I wish I had it on my shelves throughout my 20s) but it’s a decent reminder of some things to keep in mind at all times while navigating relationships.
I’m very single currently but it has so many good messages (and some shit ones but nobody is perfect and ZFB isn’t claiming to be). I’ve definitely aged past the target market for this (as I said, I wish I had it on my shelves throughout my 20s) but it’s a decent reminder of some things to keep in mind at all times while navigating relationships.
lauragillespie_'s review against another edition
3.0
I love Zoë Foster Blake and I loved this book. I wish I had it 5 years ago. She spits out some hard truths which are things we’ve all probably read or heard before, but coming from Zoë it feels like it’s coming from a close friend who sincerely cares about you. Her writing style is so engaging. She is upfront, honest, raw, and I found myself constantly laughing and ‘uh-huh’ing along. It’s definitely a light and easy read, however, despite being a book titled ‘Love!’, it only really deals with one kind of love - heterosexual romantic love - and I think it would have been really great to have had a wider concept of love explored deeper including the platonic love found between friends, family, and coworkers etc. as these are often some of our longest and complex relationships.
More...