Travel journalist Jennifer Cox loved her job but hated her love life. Were the two somehow related, she wondered? And if so could she not try to make it her job to meet Mr Right? In search of the man of her dreams, Jennifer begins to organise her global network, asking friends, business colleagues and friends of friends (all of them more affectionately known as Date Wranglers) to set her up with every interesting, unusual, special or simply gorgeous guy they can find in their little black books - as long as they fit Jennifer's Soul Mate Job Description. From the Love Professor in Sweden and the Skate Date in France to the Dead Date in Italy and the High Roller in Vegas; from the one-legged journalist in China to the Chief of the Harbour police in Sydney, Jennifer travels around the world: 80 men, in 22 countries, on 5 continents, in 8 months. But Jennifer has strict rules about dating, as well as a certain set of expectations, and as she struggles with doubts, excess baggage and date fatigue, she starts to wonder if it is actually really possible to seek and find Mr Right? And what would happen if she did track him down? Only time, travel and 80 dates would tell...
This may well be some of the best airplane reading ever. Part travel guide, part relationship primer, Around the World in 80 Dates mixes wry dating realities with preposterously romantic settings and a slightly more than backpacker budget. Author Jennifer Cox--an experienced travel journalist--gets friends around the world to act as matchmaker for an 80-date spree, and the result is, not surprisingly, highly entertaining.
As with dates everywhere, there are good (hot Swedish guy with a floating sauna), bad (hungover kid fresh from a Metallica concert), hysterically embarrassing (a shared pedicure turning into a poorly translated wart removal ordeal) and amazing (Mr. Soul Mate, Date No. 55). Almost every man goes out of his way to create sort of an ideal date--mostly involving Champagne and boats--and Cox's smirky humor and sincere desire to meet the man of her dreams combine for a sweetly honest--and honestly sweet--exploration of romance.
The romance kicks into high gear with No. 55, which happens over several days at Burning Man. She instantly feels he's "the One," but troops through toward the finish line, even daring to include No. 55 on a later date with No. 63. They sneak time together on a few continents, and it's with him that the serious romance happens (and their first date had nothing to do with either Champagne or boats). A life lesson or two are uncovered amidst the jet lag, and Cox hands those out with hard-earned wisdom that many women will recognize from their own lives. As for whether Mr. Soul Mate really turns out to be "the One," just think of it as a good mystery and don't peek--sometimes the journey is half the fun. --Jill Lightner
Tips and Tricks from Jennifer Cox
"Traveling solo gives you a sense of achievement." ~Jennifer Cox
Traveling Happy "Traveling solo is brilliant," says Jennifer Cox, a seasoned travel writer and head of PR for Lonely Planet before she set out on her extraordinary journey to find Mr. Right--a quest she recounts in the delightfully witty and insightful Around the World in 80 Dates.
If the idea of traveling companion-free has been tempting you for a while, but apprehension of the unknown, or even the fear of looking like a "loser," has been holding you back, Ms. Cox has some advice that should help get you on your way, safe, happy, and confident.
"Trust your instincts." ~Jennifer Cox
Finding the One "Take a look in the mirror. Like what you see? Good, then you're in the right mood for dating." Finding your soul mate takes more than sheer luck or extravagant settings. It's about being in the right state of mind, suggests Jennifer Cox, who, after hitting four continents in six months in search of Mr. Right, came back with a thing or two, or ten, to share with men and women who are looking for that special someone.
From defining your "dating motto" to avoiding "date fatigue," find out how to keep your spirits high even after a date brought you low, and, most important, remember that "the One" is out there. "Don't give up. And don't settle for less than Mr. [or Mrs.] Right."
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
a good read:
This book is interesting and keeps your attention the whole way through! At first I was kind of irritated at the author for not giving Olivier, the cute French guy a chance. But then towards the end of the book she starts to realize she has to let things flow and not try to control them. She seems to feel more at home in America than in Europe and starts to unwind a bit and then she falls in love! She planned her dates with no down-time at the beginning and therefore was grumpy all the time! It makes you... more info
A nice gig if you can get it!:
I love reading people's true life accounts of their world travels - I can't afford them right now, so the next best thing is to savour the delight of living vicariously through English workaholics who take six months off work (as travel writers) to go off searching for their soulmate! It's a unique sort of mission, which makes for an enjoyable read. The author, Jennifer, obviously enjoyed herself and did some soul-searching as well as soul-mate searching. This chick lit-cum-travel log will please... more info
TOUGH CRITIC:
I really enjoyed this book, I love dating books, especially the one of true accounts, in diary form, and traveling out side the U.S. in search of love. This book was fast moving most of the story, but I take my hat off to anyone who is willing to follow even chase after their dreams no matter how far it takes them, it's very inspirational. The other books that I found very much alike were ... "The Bridget Jones Diary" and "The Dream Begins When I Awake."
A+ for bravery and positive thinking:
Jennifer Cox could not find love in workaholic London. With contacts worldwide as a PR person for the Lonely Planet travel guidebooks, she sets out to find Mr. Right by sending out a casting call for dates, and ends up with 80 all told. As others have pointed out, she doesn't date outside her race, barring a mixed Thai-Italian man. This beautiful man is actually a model, but no sparks fly. Everyone is entitled to their tastes, but this racial restriction seems a bit staid, and amazing for a... more info
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