I generally really enjoyed The Rosie Project. It was a light, easy read and genuinely funny in places. Don’s very logical and matter-of-fact way of looking at relationships and everyday life made for some great comedy, especially when things quite obviously didn’t go according to his carefully organised plans.
Don actually reminded me quite a lot of my son — although I should probably point out that my son isn’t quite operating at Don’s intellectual level! It was the way Don sees things so literally, relies on logic and routine, and sometimes completely misses what everyone else thinks is obvious that felt very familiar. I think that probably made me warm to his character even more.
What I liked most was seeing Don gradually become more open to uncertainty and emotion. He starts off believing that life, and especially relationships, can be managed through rules and careful planning. Rosie challenges that way of thinking, and although he doesn’t change overnight, he slowly becomes more aware of his own feelings and more willing to consider other people’s perspectives.
Rosie develops too. She isn’t just there to disrupt Don’s organised life; as we get to know her, it becomes clear that she has her own vulnerabilities and reasons for keeping people at a distance. Their relationship works because they challenge each other without completely trying to change one another. Rosie brings spontaneity and warmth into Don’s life, while Don offers her loyalty, honesty and a kind of steady support she may not be used to. They are very different, but they gradually learn how to understand each other.
I liked the contrast between Don and Rosie and enjoyed watching their relationship develop. It was funny without trying too hard, but there were also some more thoughtful moments underneath the humour.
There were a few predictable bits, but I didn’t really mind because I enjoyed the characters enough to just go along with it.
Overall, a funny, feel-good read that didn’t require too much brain power but still kept me interested. I enjoyed it enough that I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series.
7.5/10 – good fun, very relatable in places, and I’m definitely interested to see what Don gets up to next!
