Blog Tour: The Serial Dater’s Shopping List by Morgen Bailey

Recently I’ve been trying to limit the number of Blog Tour’s I commit myself to in order to reduce the time pressures it places on my reading. However, when I was offered the opportunity to take part in this tour the synopsis really intrigued me so I decided to sign up and today I get to share my thoughts with you, I hope you enjoy it!

About The Book

Are you looking for the perfect summer holiday read? Then you’ll love this laugh-out-loud comedy about the highs and lows of dating.

Izzy is a journalist who usually writes a technology column for a local newspaper. Her somewhat-intimidating boss William sets her the task of dating thirty-one men, via an internet dating site, all within a month, and writing about it for the paper.

Having an active, though fruitless, social life with her friend Donna, Izzy knows what she wants in a man, so creates a shopping list of dos and don’ts and starts ticking them off as she meets the men.

Follow the ups and downs of the dating process including Tim ‘the Weeble’, whose date leads Izzy to see banoffee pie in a whole new light, Lawrence the super-skinny social worker, Felix with his bizarre penchant for Persian Piranhas, and ‘the music maestro but don’t talk about dead pets’ Jake.

By the end of the month, will Izzy have met Mr Right?

Review

Izzy works as a tech journalist for the local newspaper in Northampton. Content with receiving and reviewing the brand new gadgets and gizmos on the market she is somewhat apprehensive when her boss gives her a new assignment way out of her comfort zone. Being 40 and single seems to mean she is the perfect candidate for an undercover expose of the local online dating scene and she’s asked to produce a daily article about her experiences. Izzy finds herself embarking on 31 dates with 31 men, but she isn’t really looking for love….is she? Surely it’s just part of her job she is required to endure before returning to her tech security blanket?

When I first read the synopsis for this book I was thrilled to discover the female protagonist to be an ‘older lady,’ closer in age to me as opposed to the 20-something’s that usually appear in this ‘chick-lit’ genre of books and I couldn’t wait to dive right in. With such a prolonged period of dates to cover I was initially dubious about how the author could avoid making them too similar, but Morgen didn’t disappoint, providing 31 very different dates, men and scenarios that had me laughing out loud throughout.

I fell in love with Izzy’s character and whilst I have never ventured into the world of internet dating I could completely relate to her reactions and the emotions she experienced along the way. I also admired her tenacious attitude to her dates despite numerous disasters that would have had any other woman deleting her profile and running for the hills – one thing you can say for Izzy is she is certainly dedicated to her job! A special mention also has to go to Donna, Izzy’s friend and work colleague whose Tigger-like personality provided some wonderful moments and I found myself looking forward to when she would next pop up in the story.

The Serial Dater’s Shopping List is a fabulous light-hearted, humorous read and the perfect ‘easy read’ to enjoy on holiday by the pool or when you need something light to brighten your day. It’s a laugh out loud glimpse into the world of online dating that I hope isn’t all realistic or I would be worried for those using it to look for love! I’m sure this book would resonate with those who have dipped their toes into internet dating, however I found it equally as enjoyable and entertaining despite my lack of experience.

About The Author

Based in Northamptonshire, England, Morgen Bailey lives and breathes writing. ‘Morgen with an E’  is an author, speaker, tutor, editor, and podcaster. As well as being a competition judge, she is a columnist for Writers’ Forum magazine. 

Morgen’s fiction books include crime and mystery novels, and short story collections. They are mostly set against a Northamptonshire background, whether there is crime involved, a dog-detective that can talk, or a serial dater on a mission! 

Her non-fiction works are aimed at all levels of writers whether beginners or those who want to refresh their skills – Morgen also tutors in person and has several online writing courses available. She runs her own mentor group on Facebook, very much a collaboration, and she invites all authors to join. Her Writer’s Block Workbooks are a go-to for every author. 

When Morgen is not editing, speaking, reading, or writing, she’s walking her dog, out with friends or at literary festivals. The only time she sits down and does nothing is at the cinema but even then she’s making mental notes!

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

The Serial Dater’s Shopping List is available to purchase from Amazon UK* and Amazon.com

*This post contains affiliate links

**I was gifted a copy of this book in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own