Matthew Dicks is a terrific writer -- personable, witty, sharp, an ultimate person you want to be your friend so you can listen to his story. He captured me in his acknowledgments -- and while I was suspicious and not enchanted by the idea of a story told in lists, he pulled off the seemingly impossible. In lists that are heartbreaking, human, detailed and revealing, the story of Dan is revealed, passionate for his wife and for being the man she wants and fearing he falls short. Dicks has accomplished a terribly difficult feat -- and done so with charm, with grace, with elegance and laugh-out-loud humor. I love this book -- and am recommending it to everyone I know.

I was interested to read this books because it was in a different format, lists. However once I started to read it it lost my interest very quickly. I realize this is not my type of book. The lists were interesting and funny but did not hold my interest as much as I’d hoped. I’m sure this is the perfect book for many people but it was not my type of book.

It was written in a very different style that I am use to. It told a story but it was definitely up to you to put it together.

I have never read a book quite like this one. It's very different from any book I've seen, and I laughed at a lot of what was in it. I found it funny and interesting! There are several curse words in it, but other than that, I enjoyed it very much.! Unusual and different, I would probably read it again.

Thank you to NetGalley and my friends at St. Martin’s Press for gifting me with an ARC of Matthew Dick’s newest novel, Twenty One Truths About Love. In exchange for the ARC I offer my unbiased opinion.

A story written and told entirely through a series of lists sounds super gimmicky and super annoying ~ and it was and wasn’t. As a list maker myself, I easily fell into the pattern of reading Dan’s lists as a way of journaling through his anxieties, fears, grievances and priorities. Dan’s lists range from WHY PARALLEL PARKING IS BULLSHIT to ADVICE MY FATHER GAVE ME THAT IS WORTH PASSING ON TO MY CHILD. He also shares his DO NOT READ LIST( Dan owns a bookshop) as well as a monthly list of books to peruse. Through Dan’s lists we come to understand what makes Dan the man he is, his unwavering love for his wife Jill, his sadness towards his father, and why potentially robbing The Daughters of the American Revolution Bingo Hall might be the answer to all of his financial woes. I absolutely adored this quirky book!!!!! I never thought I could shed a few tears over a list titled My Highlight’s (children’s monthly magazine) Submission., but I did. Bravo to author Matthew Dicks for creating such a memorable, light hearted, big laughs of a novel.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this unconventional novel. It’s amazing how the author was able to portray Dan, the main character, so realistically simply by presenting us with the lists he keeps. I genuinely cared for this flawed but lovable bookshop owner, ex-teacher, husband, son, friend, and maybe, just maybe, dad.

The format of this book was a bit difficult because I tend to (unfortunately) be a bit of a skim reader and I found it difficult to focus my attention on the lists. I also found it difficult that we rarely got other character's perspectives. However, the lists were heartwarming and the way the story was told was pretty funny at times. It was also a bit "out there" in my opinion, but the ending was cute. It reminded me a little bit of The Rosie Project.

If I had a dime for every time I said "I'd read a shopping list written by "x" author", I'd have enough of them bright shiny suckers to pay for this gem ten times over. And that's exactly what you do with this book - it's nothing but 350+ pages of lists. It couldn't have been more enjoyable!!! Who knew that reading an author's lists would truly be this fantastic.

At least thirty times while reading this, I stopped and thought to myself, Matthew Dicks and I need to be best friends. That was even one of my updates! I wondered if it would be acceptable to send him a request and beg him to be my friend. Instead, maybe I could just quietly stalk him...but no matter what I wanted to know the person who wrote this stuff. Because every word, every list, every thought was like it was coming out of my own messed up head. There's confirmation and ample reminders in these pages that EVERYONE is just a little afraid and neurotic and strange, and it's perfectly okay. In fact, it's better than okay!

But I digress. Back to the book. The way these lists are written, it tells a complete story. It is brutally honest, funny, irreverent, charming, and utterly addictive. To all of my favorite authors out there, I can honestly say that when I say "I'd read a shopping list written by you"...well, I literally mean it!! And you have Matthew Dicks to thank, because he proved the theory and did so with style and grace!

Charming and delightful. Matthew Dicks makes the list form work in a way other books can't. A recommended purchase for collections where quirky romances are popular.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and Matthew Dicks.
This was an interesting concept writing a whole book in list format. I found this book at times boring and long.
I did find some sections funny, interesting and on point.
Overall I would not want to read another book in this format. I was happy when it was finished.

Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity.

This book is amazing. The writing style, the lists, everything. I devoured this in one day. I can honestly say this will be in my top 5 in this genre. Such a unique story filled with humor and heart. I know I will refer back to this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Yesterday I finished my book and I had to choose a new book. Sometimes it is very easy sometimes it is not! I started reading a couple of books but they didn’t capture my attention.
I started browsing in my kindle and I found Twenty-one truths about love: a list. I thought what I was thinking when I request how can I read a book that it is a list of lists?? Then I started reading and laughing. Yes it is a series of lists but there is a story too!
Dan is bookshop owner, his shop is not doing very well, his wife wants a child, his mother is extremely annoying and his bank account is dangerously going close to 0.
What can I say it is a good book, it makes you laugh, think and enjoy your time reading it, I loved and I will check the other books from this author.
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a fun book. The main character is endearing and easy to root for as he struggles with a floundering new book store, impending fatherhood, and continuing to be a good man in the eyes of his wife.

The list format is unique and does take a little while to get used to. I especially liked when people saying "why are you writing everything down?" makes the list.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*

I finished this last week and have been stewing it over how I want to review it. There are some parts I didn’t really like. I have a hard time reading from a male perspective, because I am a female and I am not comfortable inside a male’s head, some things are better left unsaid or left up to imagination (if you choose to go there). I also didn’t like the cussing, I felt like it was excessive, (although it is explained later on). The thing that drew me to this book was the fact that it was written in lists, the unusual format was really intriguing, and was done very well! Overall I really cared about the character and his life, which seems hard to convey in lists. I stayed up way too late and woke up early to burn through this. There’s something that happens at 75% that had me on the edge of my seat, and there was no way I was going to put it down!

We lie most often to the people we love. Time passes, lies multiply, and arguably a situation worsens. Case in point, Dan Mayrock's expenses which are outpacing his income at the bookstore he opened after leaving teaching. Jill, his pregnant wife, is being kept in the dark, led to believe the bookstore is profitable. Financial disaster is looming on the horizon.

Dan is overwhelmed and anxiety ridden. His former therapist suggested that he "log" his feelings. Dan does so in the form of "obsessive lists". Everything, even the minutest occurrence, is on some detailed list. Dan and Jill met at a school faculty meeting. He thought Jill to be the most competent teacher ever. He didn't think he was skilled as an educator. Leaving teaching behind, he opened a bookstore. Realistically, Dan found it difficult to turn a profit. "Watching great books go unread and terrible books sell like hotcakes" was disheartening.

Dan could not believe that Jill "blindly accepts me for exactly who I am". Jill was a widow when they met. "There will always be a part of Jill's life that will remain a secret to me because you can only tell your second husband so much about your previous life with your dead husband...I feel...so insecure." Will he ever measure up to Peter? Desperate times call for desperate measures. Reading through Dan's lists, it is clear that he waffled while creating a ridiculously, outlandish plan to procure money quickly.

"Twenty-One Truths About Love" by Matthew Dicks was written in a unique style. Read the lists and discover Dan's resolutions. Dan's anxieties, feelings of abandonment, failure and desperation are palpable. I enjoyed meeting Bill at the Bingo Hall and Clarence, the labradoodle. Dan's outlook was changing, but, in what ways?

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Twenty-One Truths About Love".

What an adorable, charming, end-of-summer read. This was such a cute idea for a book concept and I’m sure the way a lot of people, especially men think about things. Dan can’t help himself but to go through life by incessantly making lists for absolutely everything. He even incorporates his lists onto his wife and it then interferes with that relationship. He must try to adapt to life with and without his lists.
This was a light-hearted and pleasant book that I would recommend to anyone.
#TwentyoneTruthsAboutLove NetGalley #StMartinsPress

Everyone makes lists in their life. Whether it’s a grocery list, a to-do list, or what music to add to your playlist, everyone finds little scraps of paper or random notes on their phones with random thoughts or items on it. In Matthew Hicks’s Twenty-one Truths About Love, the protagonist not only writes lists about everything; it’s the only thing the reader sees.
Daniel Mayrock loves his wife Jill more than anything. However, he is scared because he is in the midst of a financial crisis, Jill wants to start a family, and Dan’s life isn’t what he thought it would be. Through Dan’s obsessive list-making, the reader sees what lengths a man will go to in order to save his family, his failing bookstore, and become someone special. Looking at the world through his eyes, Dan’s humor and personal thoughts shine through as he struggles to be the man he wishes he could be.
While the novel was a little tough to get into, it ultimately became an intriguing look into a middle-aged man’s life as he grapples with the circumstances around him. The lists were a surprisingly effective way to learn about Dan and what his thought process was throughout the span of the book.
Sometimes, the lists were tedious and boring, but other times they were able to convey just the right emotions in the perfect way. Daniel’s sarcasm and humor is very specific and he’s not afraid to offend anyone in his list-making. But that is what makes this novel work! The lists Dan makes are only for his eyes; therefore, he is unabashedly himself in his writing. While sometimes Dan makes bizarre observations and comments (for example: “Why does everyone like Friends so goddamn much?” or his list of “The worst people in the world”), other times he is insightful in ways that are beautiful. In one of his lists he says “We undoubtedly underestimate people on an everyday basis” and later on realizes “I write lists so I won’t stop existing like my father stopped existing for me.” These little blips of Dan’s thoughts are woven together to create a humorous, yet beautiful, look into an ordinary person’s mind and what they will do in order to become extraordinary.
The only thing this novel lacks is depth in the character department. The upside to the lists is how deep into Dan’s mind the reader gets to see. The downside is that same reason: we only get to see inside Dan’s mind. However, other characters are revealed through Dan’s interactions recorded via lists.
If you are a reader who enjoys descriptions and detailed accounts of setting and characters, this may not be the book for you. However, for anyone looking for a fresh take on how a story can be formed by a few sentences compiled together, then Twenty-one Truths About Love will be a unique reading experience. This is definitely a book to check out on November 19th.

This book was perfect for a summer read. I liked the point of view. Reminded me of books like The Rosie Project. I had a few places where I think the plot was convenient, but overall loved it!

Twenty-One Truths About Love had me cracking up from page one. From the very first list, Matthew Dicks had my undivided attention. I was in no way prepared for a book comprised entirely of lists, but it was truly a fantastic read.

This piece contained so much humor and wit. Who can say we haven’t all shared the same sentiments around football and Highlights magazine? It was all so raw; I had a great time diving into the mind of a fellow overthinking people-pleaser. I’m so glad that Dan took a chance... even though it may not have been the sanest choice. I love the message that no matter how much time has passed, you can always make a change and take another path through life.

There was also a strange The Catcher in the Rye type of vibe that I felt while reading. Not sure why, if it’s from Dan thinking so many people are idiots or because I’m recalling The Catcher in the Rye wrong, but the energy was definitely felt by this reader.

The only hiccups for me was the structure of the book. Because it was completely formatted by lists, I was starting to grow weary toward the final third of the book. It was a hilarious and relatable story, but I think the difference in structure just made me need take a couple breaks to reset.

Overall, this was an absolutely wonderful read. Thank you so much for this ARC! A more comprehensive review will be available on social media closer to the date of publication.

3.5 / 5 ⭐

This book caught my attention when I discovered it was written entirely in the form of lists. At first I thought - so how does that make a story? I just didn’t see how a book full of lists would allow for an engaging and fulfilling read. But when I entered into Daniel Mayrock’s world and his compulsion for making lists about anything and everything, I was pleasantly surprised.

Through lists such as:
Shopping List
Texts from Jill
5 Problems with lying
Facts about marriage
Proof I’m stupid
Ways to keep Jill from getting pregnant
Reasons I opened a bookstore
15 Truths about Peter
Dinner with Mom
I learned all about Dan, his marriage and all his insecurities.

Dan is a teacher but quits the security of his job to open a bookstore called A New Chapter. Things aren’t going so well for Dan. Now he stresses over finances, and he still competes with Jill’s first husband, Peter, who is dead. Jill wants to get pregnant, but Dan is worried. See his dad wasn’t around for him so what kind of father will he be? And he hasn’t told Jill about their financial woes.

Even though Dan is insecure and doesn’t always make the best decisions, he will do just about anything for the family he loves. But first he must make a list of pros and cons.

Honestly, this isn’t the type of format I would choose to read, but it did work. Some of his lists were just silly, like “places I urinated today,” but others truly made me LOL. As the story unfolded, I was utterly amazed at how invested I was. I needed to know how this turned out. Would Jill and the baby be okay? Is Dan going to pull off his crazy idea to bring in some money?

And for me, the best part was the lists of books. Dan owns a bookstore and he loves books. Therefore, he makes lists about books to read, what not to read, and things said by bookish people. One of my favorite comments was: “It’s hard to hate a person with a book in their hand.”

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC for review

Publish Date: 11/19/19